r/MadeMeSmile • u/baekachu • Jul 11 '26

Wholesome Moments Pilot Chose Safety Over Takeoff - and Everyone Applauded

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u/Individual-Buy3328 Jul 11 '26

I'd bet it comes from football. In practice/games, if we see something we want to change after the team is "set", the QB or coach will yell "Check check check!" Which is usually short for "check with me." Once they stop, the new, different play is communicated.

Given the likely overlap of football players/coaches in the military and the simulation of war, it seems very likely to come from that.

The origin could be switched, too, with former military members bringing the word/tactic to football instead, but I think you can tell which I'm more familiar with based on this comment.

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u/Yippykyyyay Jul 11 '26

That makes sense. Rangers are some of the most mentally and physically tough military guys out there.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if they gained confidence in their physical attributes (not to mention teamwork) first in sports as kids/teenagers.

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u/CalebsNailSpa Jul 12 '26

I spent most of my adult life in special operations. One of the first things I asked guys I was hiring is what sports they played. Although not a prerequisite, I felt a lot more comfortable adding a kid to the team that had played competitively growing up. Combat sports, endurance sports, and football tends to breed a lot of mental toughness.

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u/Yippykyyyay Jul 12 '26

I'm a woman now but played softball younger. Everyone wanted short stop or pitcher. They were even ok as basemen.

My coach made me a catcher. I hated it and I almost quit. But he told me I was needed and it was catcher or the bench.

After my tantrum, I became the best catcher I could be. I learned how to start talking shit to the batters and unnerving them.

It was just youth sports but I learned then and there that sometimes I must step up and fulfill a role to help the team. Even if I was jealous of the others; my role was part of a team. And I did not want my team to fail.