Basketball and football may reign supreme in this big blue town, but there are more and more sports available for young and old alike to test their skills and stretch their abilities-some in more than only physical ways.
Say what?
On the field, they are a unit-cohesive and strong, moving the ball down the field, communicating flawlessly through a series of headers, kicks and passes. Off the field, it's a different story-there are numerous languages and dialects to choose from among the members of one Bluegrass International Futbol Association (BIFA) team, which includes those hailing from Liberia, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Iraq, Honduras, Mexico, South Korea and the United States. There are about 400 participants in the league.
"It's interesting to see the world we live in in Lexington, Kentucky," said team member Nathan Brown. "People should go over to Masterson Station Saturdays and Sundays if they don't think they live in a diverse place. The sport has a way of bringing people together-all different ethnic, religious and political backgrounds are involved-we just enjoy the sport."
Andres Cruz has been a force behind the organization of BIFA over the last several years and agrees with Brown. "Here you forget a little bit about your skin color; what matters is the team, you want your team to win and do well."
An immigrant and publisher of the bilingual newspaper La Voz de Kentucky, Cruz recognizes the bonding power of sports. "When I got to this country, the first thing I remember is finding soccer and that's how I made my first friend. And some of those people are still my best friends."
The same is true for those who find the sport at an even earlier age. While BIFA is primarily for adults, another league, the Lexington Young Soccer Association (LYSA), has been bringing soccer to the masses of young athletes in Lexington for years.
Arguably the most successful and prolific of "new sports" in terms of American popularity over the last 20 years, Larry Cook of LYSA attributes the success of soccer to its simplicity and focus on team skills. "At it's most simplistic it's kicking a ball and running after it. Anybody can play soccer and get something out of it." And, he said, "[the kids] are getting active and playing with and against kids they might not otherwise interact with. They are learning how to win, lose and depend on others. It's a team sport. Despite individual situations where you can dominate, you're not successful unless everyone is contributing."
Cheerleaders welcomeÖon the field
The cardinal rule of soccer-no hands (except the goalie)-was broken the day that William Web Ellis supposedly picked up the ball during a soccer (called football overseas) game in England and began running with it-the first incarnation of a new sport: rugby.
Die-hard "American" sports fans would probably most closely associate rugby with American football. The balls are similar in shape and size, the smash-and-grab play looks about as violent, but there are key differences: one of which being the utter lack of padding and protective gear. And, says Jamie Givens, a participant with Black Widow Women's Rugby here in Lexington, "the play doesn't stop once the ball is down. At that point it's just getting started."
The petite University of Kentucky fine arts graduate and muralist attended college on a scholarship for cheerleading-and she smiles devilishly when disclosing that little fact amidst all the talk of scrums, tackles, passes and general beatings associated with the sport. "It's exhausting but totally worth it; you're bruised but it's such a rush," she said. "At first you're scared to get tackled, but it's not so bad. Then it's cool."
Givens is probably the ideal recruiter for the sport that she says "anyone can play-even if you don't know how." And she's not kidding. Among the players, there are financial advisors, a radio personality, a physical therapist, trainers, students, a pharmaceutical sales representative and myriad others.
Givens acknowledges that her own love for rugby originated when she was riding her bike across campus and saw some guys playing at UK. As she recalls, "One of them told me, 'You should do this. You're fast and you have a lot of rage.'"
And, though the women's league may get some attention for the nontraditional approach, the guys have been at it for a while. Bob Brown of Transylvania University and the Lexington Blackstone, says the boys rugby club in town is bringing some prominence to the sport in Lexington and the region.
"The main league has six teams and we play in Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Covington, Louisville and at home in Lexington," he said, and adds proudly. "We've won the tourney the last two years."
As with the girls, the Blackstone boys boast players from all ages and occupations. (Editor's note: In fact, Smiley Pete's own publisher, Chuck Creacy, has been known to jump in the fray from time to time.)
War Games
And what review of Lexington sports would be complete without an equestrian element in this Horse Capitol of the World? It's not what you might think. It's not the most recognizable of Lexington's "horsey" sports, Thoroughbred racing, though this sport does involve ponies and riders and a lot of international participation. Polo-in this town and round the world-is more than just a brand of clothing.
For many, even the idea of riding a horse can be intimidating. Gay Bredin of Mount Brilliant Farm says, "Riding is definitely the main skill prerequisite."
Bredin organizes the annual Polo in the Park Crab Orchard Invitational held at the Kentucky Horse Park. The good news is; there's no prerequisite for watching polo-and liking it.
The exact origins of polo are unknown, though it is thought to date back as far as nomadic warriors. Early recorded matches took place between Persians and Turks, and the game became popular in India, where the British picked it up and moved it west. The game of polo, now seen as socially upscale, was in fact once a war game used to train cavalry. Much has changed since then, however. The sport came to America in 1876, but even in a town like Lexington, the sport has only gained increased access and popularity in the last 20 years, according to Bredin. And, though a polo ball may fly by at an impressive 110 miles per hour after being whacked by a skilled rider atop a racing horse, the only war being fought is for the win.
"People just want to watch a good match, and the guys that play, they really enjoy the camaraderie," Bredin said.
The Crab Orchard Invitational and its concurrent events may be the most well recognized polo event, but the Lexington Polo Club holds games at the Kentucky Horse Park consistently throughout the summer. Lexington Polo also participates in Polo in the Park, kicking off festivities with the Malone's Cup. This year's event is from July 6-19.
Learn more about the sports and participate
Soccer
What: Bluegrass International Futbol Association (BIFA)
Who: Adults (under 18 can participate with consent)
When: Spring and Summer
How: www.bifalex.org
What: Lexington Youth Soccer Association (LYSA)
Who: All skill levels accommodated, up to age 18
When: Fall and Spring
How: www.lysa.org
Rugby
What: Black Widow Women's Rugby
Who: Women, all skill levels and ages
When: Spring and Fall
(abbreviated matches also scheduled in the Summer)
How: www.blackwidowrugby.com
What: Lexington Blackstone Rugby
Who: Men, all skill levels and ages
When: Spring and Fall
(abbreviated matches also scheduled in the Summer)
How: www.geocities.com/lexingtonrugby
Polo
What: Lexington Polo Club
Who: Inexperienced through advanced riders
When: April through October
How: www.lexingtonpolo.com
What: Polo in the Park
Who: Open to the public (spectator event)
When: July 6-19
How: www.polointheparklex.com