A Life Race with your Father

While watching the Superbowl, I started to think how we talked about how fathers are the more sport-sy parent. The father-son tradition of watching a ballgame or playing catch outside supports this belief. However, what Manning fails to see is that just because his dad relates to him physically doesn't mean that he doesn't love him. His "physical" words are his way of expressing his love and feelings for Manning. Similar to how each ball thrown by a father says I love you. There are many different expressions of love which Manning is trying to demonstrate through his piece.

When you look at the whole story it is clear that the organization represents an arm-wrestling match itself. The beginning shows how Manning is always fighting and struggling to understand his father's love for him. His inability to comprehend this love shows his how he still hasn't matured. However, as the story progresses you see how Manning slowly gains strength and grows up a little. Despite the fact that he is growing up, he still doesn't understand his father and almost feels detached from him. Even though he beats his father in this middle part, it represents how the roles are reversing from the father being the protector to how Manning now has to care for his father. Finally, as the tide in the match shifts in favor of Manning, we see him maturing and how he "realize[s]...in the last hug [he said] that he loved me". This illustrates how the arms are now leaning with Manning on top. The ending, especially the last sentence, demonstrates the uncertainty that Manning has completely won as he is still doubtful about father's expression of love.

Manning's ability to replicate the structure of an arm-wrestling match in his piece makes it not only effective, but also relatable.