These days I hear the word “play station” more often than the pitch. I wonder how many playing fields still exist?

I would have loved to take Sonny out and kick a soccer ball with him and watch him huff and puff while demonstrating my dribbling skills. But that must not be, since there is no playground for miles from where I live.

The only playing fields sonny sees are the ones showing sporting events on TV or a square, rectangular or circular digital patch he sees on his Play Station game console.

That is the world that dominates, since it is the undisputed champion of these playing fields. He’s in complete command as he races cars, battles alien monsters, and takes on the greats of all gaming on their own terms.

The characters in these games, with whom you share these playing fields, are your friends. They don’t care if they lose a game or show glee if they win.

He gets excited when he scores over them, but he doesn’t need to worry if he performs poorly. He can leave a game at his will and send his contenders back to their digital seclusion until he summons them back to another game when he feels like it.

I often get called in to test my skills and train with him, but I always find some excuse to stay away from these intensely structured digital challenges.

On a couple of occasions when I ventured up to a challenge, I must admit that my joystick skills weren’t up to par even at the lowest levels of the game.

Sonny was indeed the winner. Give me a playing field and I’ll have my sweet revenge.