The Ball Goes up in the Air . . .

The ball goes up in the air and you feel something —- a lump in your throat, or butterflies moving in your chest. Your breath jumps, but you’re not sure: is it anticipation, excitement, fear, joy? If you had more time, maybe, you could name what you’re feeling — put words to the sensation and explain it to yourself in a way that brings clarity.

If it’s soccer, then maybe the ball going up in the air means that you’re going to have to bring it down gently with a chest trap - or if you’re a goalkeeper, maybe this means you’re going to have to come off of your line on an in-swinging corner kick —- be bold (or what might feel like boldness), and snatch it out of the air before it meets an attacker’s forehead.

If it’s tennis, and the score is ad-in and you’re up a break in the second set, then the ball going up in the air might mean it has just ricocheted awkwardly off of the frame of your opponents racket and is hovering above your side of the net . . . just waiting to be resolved with an overhead smash. But did you make your last overhead, or what about the one before that?

If it’s football, and you’re a wideout and find yourself sprinting down the left sideline, maybe you can’t even see (yet) the ball going up in the air, but you can just tell by the baited breath and lingering swell of the crowd that your quarterback has just launched it way down the field and soon —- like in a few split seconds —- you’re going to have to turn to your right, locate the ball, and run under it (or go and get it). And by the way, there’s also a cornerback draped over your shoulder, and a safety just a few steps away, who’s approaching fast. Not only do you know —- I have to catch this one, but also, I have to make sure I don’t get clobbered by the safety.

If you find a few free moments, first thing in the morning, before bed — or really anytime during the day see if you can answer this question — preferably with a pen or pencil in-hand and a notebook or sheet of paper at your ready: what do I feel, most often, (1) Just before a ball goes up in the air; (2) While I’m watching a ball go up in the air then starts to come down, and (3) Just after a ball that was once up in the air, has landed again?

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- Jordan Myers - 11/25/25