True to our namesake, once upon a time this semi-humble, athletic enthusiast routinely rewarded myself with a college Phys. Ed. class. My goal was to take one each semester to balance out the work load. Upon graduation therefore — right below my highly respected and useful classes of Econ, BLaw, and Operations, for example — were transcribed courses such as Basketball, Bowling, and Ball Room Dancing — never neglecting, too, the formidable trio of Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Golf. The Intramuralist has always been true to its name.
Arguably my favorite athletic elective, no less, was Badminton. Now before the collective snickers and jeers, let me say that for those yet under the guise that such is simply the relaxing, recreational pastime of sunny summer gatherings, I contend that badminton is no such thing. Badminton is a furious, fast-moving, incredibly active sport. Said as only the ever-so-factual Wikipedia can, “The sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, agility, explosive strength, speed and precision.” (…explosive strength? …uh… ok… that was me. 🙂 )
Truth told, a close friend at the time was a senior student who grew up playing what seemed the equivalent of AAU in the Philippines. He was a fantastic badminton player — so talented, he decided to take me under his wing. Hence, thanks to Erwin, I did quite well in my favorite elective. I did far more than hold my own.
Near the semester’s end, we held a single-elimination, singles tournament — 3 game matches, playing to 21. In a field of forty, I advanced to the semi-finals. Here I encountered the #2 singles player on the Purdue men’s tennis team. Obviously, he was exceptionally good.
Many times I have recounted this match… slamming that small feathered shuttlecock to and fro… hustling and sweating… making some awesome shots. My serve was totally on! Our match went the full three games. And as the years have passed, I have gleefully shared what a wonderful triumph the game proved to be. Here a scholarshipped racquet star was eclipsed by this not-so-nerdy management grad. What a game.
I have thought of that match many days recently… granted, it wasn’t sports that made me think of the triumphant occasion…
Some weeks ago we watched as NBC anchor Brian Williams acknowledged he hadn’t told the truth when proclaiming he was in a helicopter hit by enemy fire. That story led us to Hillary Clinton’s false 2008 claim of outrunning “sniper fire in Bosnia”… then the biased Mother Jones accused news host Bill O’Reilly of lying for CBS, during reporting on the Falkland Islands in 1982; O’Reilly claims the accusations are false. And then this week VA Dept. Sec. Bob McDonald — a man the Intramuralist highly respects — admitted he lied when he told a homeless man he served in the Special Forces.
The question is honesty: are people honest? Are our leaders honest? Should we require honesty? Was Bush #2 always honest? Is Obama always honest? Always? (… and better yet… do we give a pass to one but scrutinize the other??)
I return again to my infamous badminton story because I have news for you: for years I told the story as if I beat that #2 men’s tennis player. It was an awesome match! But the gaping reality is that I sincerely cannot remember if I won or lost. I remember how I felt… and I felt like I won! I remember a tight match, an active struggle, all against an opponent who thought no one would ever come close to him… I even remember the look on his face! And when I think of the story, I really do think I won; it was awesome!! But I might not have. My story is not a lie; but it may not be the truth.
The better question when honesty is disputed is what may be the purpose of the lie… to look better? … sound better? … advance self? … advance a desired cause? … to cast a manipulated image? That’s what we should ask each person of whom a mistruth is accused.
As for me and my glorious badminton story, I really have no good answer as to why I may have enthusiastically shared such a mistruth. I have no desire to manipulate my audience. I do, however, enjoy sharing the feeling that I almost won.
Respectfully…
AR
Great story, but I don’t care if you won or lost. I do care, however, if The President really has changed his views on gay marriage, whether there is corruption at the IRS, and whether I can keep my doctor if I like him. Bald face lies, every one of them, by the leader of the free world.
I love everything you write in your story and the challenge with our memories (i.e. especially as we get older). However, I struggle IF we (collective whole) should be the ones to weigh the “reason” for the lack of truth? Then, aren’t we judge and jury and as you state, is there criteria where stretching the story is ok for one person (for one reason) but not for another person? GREAT reflective article… I’ll be pondering for a while.