Chess Chat
There's a commercial that ran during the Fall 2004 NFL season that featured the father of an elementary-aged kid who was trying to find something, ANYTHING, that his son could do well. He put his son in soccer, basketball, football, etc., etc., only to discover that the kid just didn't have the knack for any sport. Then, finally, we see the father watching a chess match among a reserved group of spectators when his son makes a - presumably - spectacular move. Having restrained himself for too long, he jumps up - both hands in the air - and cheers, much to the chagrin of his fellow spectators.
Last Saturday, I was that guy.
I wasn't jumping up and down like a maniac, but I couldn't have been prouder when my 13 year-old son won six straight matches and became the Abilene interschoolastic chess champion.
For me, the most tense moment of the day came during Levi's fourth game. About six moves in, Levi lost one of his rooks, and he pretty much spent the next few moves on the ropes, losing several other pieces as his opponent played quite aggressively. After making a few sacrifices, Levi (black) finally managed to achieve the position that I set out in my previous post:
This was probably his last chance to win. His last move, putting the bishop on h3, looked really odd to me at first, but - before white had responded - it started making sense.
After a few tense seconds of pondering his options, Levi's opponent (an impressive elementary aged player) decided to capture the pawn on e5 with his rook. Then, Levi swooped down and captured the g2 pawn. Checkmate!
Hours later, that position on the board was still burned into my mind as I laid down to sleep. I'm not sure about all of the reasons why it stuck out to me. But, as a father, I think it symbolized a lot more than good thinking - it was a model of poise under pressure. Levi held it together - in a seemingly lost situation - long enough to buy himself one last chance to win.
This time, it worked, but it could have just as easily gone the other way. In that event, Levi's opponent could have (also very deservedly) become the overall winner.
In that sense, my experience on Saturday wasn't so much about jump-up-and-down pride as it was about taking comfort in the fact that my son is continuing to find his way along the path to maturity. And at a time when many of Levi's friends at Highland, and - to a much lesser extent - Levi himself, are being forced to find that maturity more quickly than they ought, it was a blessing to finally have a chance to smile when it happened.
Last Saturday, I was that guy.
I wasn't jumping up and down like a maniac, but I couldn't have been prouder when my 13 year-old son won six straight matches and became the Abilene interschoolastic chess champion.
For me, the most tense moment of the day came during Levi's fourth game. About six moves in, Levi lost one of his rooks, and he pretty much spent the next few moves on the ropes, losing several other pieces as his opponent played quite aggressively. After making a few sacrifices, Levi (black) finally managed to achieve the position that I set out in my previous post:
This was probably his last chance to win. His last move, putting the bishop on h3, looked really odd to me at first, but - before white had responded - it started making sense.
After a few tense seconds of pondering his options, Levi's opponent (an impressive elementary aged player) decided to capture the pawn on e5 with his rook. Then, Levi swooped down and captured the g2 pawn. Checkmate!
Hours later, that position on the board was still burned into my mind as I laid down to sleep. I'm not sure about all of the reasons why it stuck out to me. But, as a father, I think it symbolized a lot more than good thinking - it was a model of poise under pressure. Levi held it together - in a seemingly lost situation - long enough to buy himself one last chance to win.
This time, it worked, but it could have just as easily gone the other way. In that event, Levi's opponent could have (also very deservedly) become the overall winner.
In that sense, my experience on Saturday wasn't so much about jump-up-and-down pride as it was about taking comfort in the fact that my son is continuing to find his way along the path to maturity. And at a time when many of Levi's friends at Highland, and - to a much lesser extent - Levi himself, are being forced to find that maturity more quickly than they ought, it was a blessing to finally have a chance to smile when it happened.
posted by Matt at Monday, February 21, 2005
1 Comments:
Go Levi! That is great!
Just wanted to let you know, Matt, that I always enjoy visiting bible class with my parents when I am in Abilene. You and Sheila have a gift for sharing what you have studied in a manner that always seems so authentic. Thanks.
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