Hog Wild!

Every once in awhile I feel like getting off my high horse long enough to comment on something positive in the community.

Today it's school spirit. I started thinking about this last Friday while waiting for my physical therapy appointment. One of the gals was apologizing because the colors she wore weren't quite right for the "Fight for the Fish" that was to be held that evening. The annual basketball face off between Lake City and Coeur d'Alene high schools. An intense rivalry and annual event.

This morning's papers reported on the "Battle for the Prairie Pig" between Lakeland and Post Falls and the "Battle of the Buck" between Timberlake and Priest Lake. These two pairings really get into it far beyond basketball. There is cheering competition, bands battling, lip syncing Elvis impersonations and "an event or two that defied written explanation", according to the Rathdrum Star. Plus the basketball.

"Battle of the Buck" goes even further yet. Timberlake raised $2,238.02 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and held the administrators to the terms of the challenge - dressing as farm animals.

I love it. It's part of what makes living in an area like this great fun. The learning experience here encompasses much more then book learning. It's about loyalty, teamwork, creativity, diligence and healthy competition. The kids are into it. The parents are into it. The teachers are into it.

What I didn't read was perhaps even more important. There were no reports of riots, no DUIs, no accusations of cheating - no bad sportsmanship.

Though all the schools want to win it seems there is a tacit understanding among all the participants that it's not so much a matter of win or lose, but how the games are played. That, to me, is most refreshing.