The game to end all games...

When I was younger I was obsessed with hiding. I was constantly hiding and popping out to try to scare people, most commonly my mother or siblings. I would hide in closets, under beds, behind doors, under couches, around corners...anywhere that my childhood frame could fit. Sometimes I would wait for minutes while my prey unsuspecting worked their way into my lair. I loved the excitement and the thrill of the victory when someone would jump and scream. *(I still do this. It is my flaw. Why? Perhaps I have some deep psychological issue that must be dissected by a qualified professional.)*
Hiding was was my first game love, but not my last. I used to play Cops & Robbers with my brother almost everyday during the summer. I think it was our excuse to beat up on each other...because everyone knows that cops beat up on robbers. If you went too fast on your bike then you deserved to be knocked off, drug through the road, handcuffed and left to think about what you'd done. Simple as that, no way around it. The laws of the land could not be ignored. Do the crime, do the time.
As a child, nothing was more fun than playing games; hide and seek, kick the can, flashlight tag, or capture the flag. Capture the Flag (or as I affectionetly call it, CTF) was ALWAYS my choice. To this day I am still in love with the concept. Two teams, two flags, one goal.
A few years ago my best friend Preston and I decided to add our teenage ingenuity (and free time) to this classic game. We spent the greater part of a day and about $60 at Home Depot creating competition quality flags complete with hemmed fabric, reinforced PVC, and sharp screw/spear ends for easy and efficient placement. They were our Sistine Chapel...our Titanic...our War and Peace.
Upon completition of our masterpieces, we began the daunting task of selecting a host site. More research than you can appreciate went into the process. We weighed the pros and cons, asked for opinions, performed field analysis, and followed our intuition. We finally decided on a new park being built in the Jordan River bottoms between Draper and Riverton. The troops were assembled and the teams decided. *Side note: It is more difficult than you imagine to explain the rules, objectives, and strategy of CTF to somone who has never played...and English is their second language. Thank you Fernando.*
In our minds, we expected an epic battle of good and evil. Scenes from Troy, Braveheart, Gladiator and Saving Private Ryan ran through our minds like an eager river of anticipation. Sadly, the game never reached its full potential. Even our military quality flags could not save it. People lacked courage and vision. People were weak and spineless. The love of the game was not instilled in their young hearts. They wanted ease instead of excellence. People gave up, gave in, and gave nothing. The game asked for their best and they weren't willing to part with it. Granted, there were a few stalwart players who tried their best to do it justice but ultimately the dedication of a few could not overcome the apathy of many.
For now the flags rest quietly in a darkened unworthy corner of Preston's garage...undisturbed and unloved. One day they may rise from their hypothetical ashes like a phoenix and regain their destined glory...but only in the hands of people who love them as much as they deserve.