The Power Of a T-shirt

The softball team I play on won the regular season league title. We were supposed to have the playoffs the last two Monday nights, but they were postponed due to rain. So, we played them last night in 40 degree weather.

In the semi-final game I hit in the lead-off spot and went 4-4 and scored four runs. Unfortunately, the lead our team had going into the last inning evaporated and we wound up losing 17-15.

One thing I learned: Don't expect suburban guys playing in a consolation game for third place (10 minutes after losing the first one) in 40 degree weather in a recreational league softball game to give much effort. Especially after the deflating realization that we weren't going to win a t-shirt. Our team lost 17-13, three teams away from the shirts.

Man, I didn't realize the carrot at the end of the stick that t-shirt was. We played 11 games in a fall league (which each team member paid $30 to be on the team) for a chance at winning a $5 shirt. Suburban rec league softball guys are a strange breed.

Maybe we learned this behavior from getting invited to college sorority parties for which the girls would give you a t-shirt. To us guys, they're more than just shirts...they're victory banners!

Is it possible that it's just that guys are a strange breed?