My Hero is a 9 Year Old

I will be the first person to say that I am not a typical female. Ask anyone who knows me and they will agree. I have more guys that are friends then girls; I keep SportsCenter playing in my house 24/7, and would rather spend time at a wrestling show then go to the mall. (For the record, I DETEST THE MALL.)

I hate any argument that has to do with Women’s Rights. I am a firm believer that if you are using Women’s Rights as an excuse, that you are probably a sexist pig to begin with. Man or Woman, that’s just how it goes. The only individuals who can limit women and what they can accomplish are women themselves. A truly strong woman will not use prejudice and other limitations to their advantage, but instead will beat down any obstacle that gets in their way and laugh in its face once it is conquered. If you are passionate and a hard worker, it doesn’t matter who or what you are. You will be successful.

When I was in grade school I loved playing sports. While the other girls in my class played “garden” (they dug holes in the dirt and ripped up grass) I was playing touch football, soccer, street hockey. I would get so many grass stains on my school clothes, my teachers would write notes home to explain that I was perfectly fine, just got a little carried away during recess.

Every Fall I would tell my mom how I wanted to play football. That was my goal, my dream. I had a cannon as an arm, I was quick in eluding tackles, and had hands like Cris Carter. Of course, my mother, without any good excuse, would not let me play organized football. Why? Well, I’m sure you can probably guess why, but I’ll tell you anyways. Because I am a girl. A girl who apparently can’t do everything a boy can do.

But wait Mom, can I run for President? Of course you can Joan. Can I become a news reporter? Of course you can Joan. Can I go skydiving? Of course you can Joan.

Can I play football? No Joan, you can’t, girls can’t do that.

BUT MOM, I HAVE HANDS LIKE CRIS CARTER!

I don’t care if you have hands like Jesus himself Joan, girls don’t play football.

For years I tried and failed to convince my mom that I could hang with the boys on the football field. To this day it is my biggest regret that I never had the chance to play in an organized game. My family even let me play in boys Little League, but never on a football team.  This is why 9-year old football phenom, Sam Gordon is my hero.

She has been all over the football world, from NFL GameDay to the sidelines of a BYU football game.  If you haven’t had a chance to check out her skills, just follow the link I have provided. The girl can not only break tackles and take hits, but she dishes them out as well. Gordon is honestly living my childhood dream and I could not be more proud and envious. Here is a girl who was given a chance to play a game that she enjoys. Best part, she wasn’t told she couldn’t just because she is a girl.

Many critics want to label Gordon’s accomplishment as a monumental step forward in Women’s Rights. I think these people deserve to be shot.  A 9-year old girl isn’t thinking about the message the she is sending society. All she cares about is having fun and kicking the boy’s butts! She doesn’t even plan to play football her entire life, apparently after football she plans to move into soccer. This girl loves sports and simply wants to compete to the best of her ability. Gordon isn’t making a statement, she is being a 9-year old having fun. Boy, girl, green, blue, alien, or zebra Gordon’s accomplishments on the football field are impressive for any football player that age, not just a girl.

Sam Gordon doesn’t care what society thinks of her. She most certainly does not let anyone hold her back or to a certain standard because she is a girl. I am in complete admiration. I salute Sam’s father for letting his daughter do what she wants to do. This is the attitude we should all take when we take on any obstacle. Just because I am a woman, doesn’t mean I should hold myself or let anyone else hold me to a different standard.  I am going to take on any goal I set myself to the best of my ability, because I am strong minded, a hard worker, and no matter the social-norm, I can accomplish anything and be successful anywhere. We can all learn from Sam Gordon, if not how to be a better person, then how to be a better football player. Cause this girl can cut like Barry Sanders.