I played two games of soccer this evening, and I think that I’m finally starting to get back to being able to run in some fashion (though it’s still like a preying mantis).  The second game I played was just as an extra sub for a friend’s team, so I wasn’t quite as vested in winning, plus I had just finished playing a close game that we won in the last 30 seconds.

Well in this second game, there was a female who played, despite it being a men’s league.  Which is of course fine with me, other than the fact that it would never be allowed for a male to play in a women’s league.  Ignoring that sexism, I’ll say that she was very good, and I could see why she was on the team.  So good in fact, she made everyone forget that I scored two goals in the game, all because she beat me off the dribble, nutmegged me, and scored a goal.

And that’s the thing, because she was a girl, I got crap for letting her beat me like that (and deservedly so).  And I’m not sexist, I’m all for equality among the sexes, but you’ll have to admit that sucks for me.

Now while I’m on the subject of equality of men and women, let me point out that we still haven’t achieved the right balance.  There are still some cases of discrimination against women, but seemingly more apparent (at least to me as a male) is that the pendulum has swung the other way.  Women want equality (equal pay, etc) yet they still want chivalry – the man should pay for the meal, open the door, walk on the side closest to the curb in case a car weaves onto the sidewalk…

Sounds to me like women want to have their cake and eat it too (as they should because what else is cake good for?).   And just because you’re female, I’m expected to get hit by a car for you?  I’m sorry ladies, if I see a car barrelling towards us on the sidewalk, I might try to push you out of the way, but I’m certainly not going to stand there and try to stop the car with my body like I’m the Incredible Hulk.

And before I get yelled out, let me digress and say that I do open doors for women, I will pick up the check, and I always follow “ladies first.”   But gentleman, you want to see something funny?  Open the door for your woman 8, 9, 12 times in a row.  But right when she’s in a hurry, and expecting you to open the door, act like you’re going to, and then stop.  BAM she nails the door and falls out of her high heels that she always complains are too painful to wear yet constantly finds herself in.  It’ll keep her on her toes, and she’ll learn to appreciate the times you do decide to grab the door (or leave you for a man who doesn’t play games like that – it’s either or really).