Jumping Rope vs. Wrestling

In eighth grade I was given the same choice as every other gym class participant: Four weeks of wrestling or four weeks of jumping rope. The class divided along gender and--now that I look back--sexual preference lines. I joined the rest of the men and a few swarthy women on the wrestling mats for the next month, but it's obvious now that I made the wrong choice. Jumping rope with 20 girls and the only gay guy in the class would have been much preferable to getting mat burns on my face.