Who is the better athlete? This question has been asked on occasion over the years in various TV shows and most recently in the Disney film The Game Plan. My 8 year-old ballerina's favorite line in the movie is this:

"If ballet were easy they would call it football."

Now, add soccer to the mix. I am not a fan of soccer, but watching just a few minutes of a game will show you that these players are fast, agile, flexible and full of endurance. They play long hours running back and forth, up and down that very large field chasing a ball. It is a far more strenuous sport than American football, in my opinion.

As a sports outsider it seems that some football players are incredible athletes, but some look as if they have trouble walking.

They can’t even see their toes, forget about touching their toes. Yet, they are paid athletes. Very well paid athletes.

Ballerinas are phenomenally strong and flexible and perform on an intense schedule. they would likely outlast any average football player in an endurance challegne.

Now watch the hilarious video to the right. This referee brings a bit of ballet to the field, though I am not sure fans appreciate his talent!

I won’t try to compare all football players to all soccer players or to all ballerinas. Apples to oranges, watermelons to blueberries and all that.

Look instead at the qualities they share:

• They start with a dream. A young ballerina dreams of dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy at Lincoln Center, the young football player dreams of the Superbowl, the soccer player dreams of the World Cup.

• Dedication to their art. Or sport. I really don’t feel comfortable calling football an art. I also don’t understand why the fans feel the need to paint themselves.
• Commitment: they begin training at a young age and work for years to enjoy a relatively short career in their chosen field. or on their chosen field.
• They endure ample pain on the way to reaching their goals, sometimes doing permantent damage to their bodies.
• They risk injury daily. An injury could end their career in a moment.

Who has the most fans? World wide, soccer has the most fans. American football fans sometimes choose to dedicate their life to supporting their team, living football like a religion.

Ballet fans? Ballet fans are different. They don’t scream at the stage or throw things at the performers and to my knowledge, no one has been trampled to death at a showing of Swan Lake. They are a refined bunch. They are not even allowed to eat hot dogs or drink beer while enjoying the show. And they still go anyway. Ballet speaks to the soul. It lifts the spirit. Once you are hooked you will likely be a fan for life. And you never have to worry about your team losing.