Me, a jock?

Yesterday, while WO and I were giving the incoming freshmen tours, he called me a jock as I launched into an explanation of the SRC facilities.

Now, I know he didn’t mean it to be insulting. Ignoring the fact that all the mothers on the tour suddenly gave me a once-over (I was wearing a tank-top and shorts, so they could see most of my muscle and most of my fat), I found the term a little odd.

Does weight-lifting and running alone make me a jock? WO says yes, along with the fact that I track weight-lifting workouts.

That doesn’t fit with my idea of a jock. From a Google search:

Definition: An athlete, particularly a male athlete; usually used to describe someone who is good at sports but not so good at school. Example: 1) Kenny is a real jock — he plays football, baseball, basketball and hockey! Etymology: The term comes from ‘jockstrap’, which is an athletic supporter (tight underwear) worn by many men when they are involved in sports.

I’m good at school, damnit!

Am I an athlete? Yes. I strive to be a better runner and a stronger weight-lifter. I strive for physical fitness.

But I don’t take kids’ lunch money. I don’t flunk classes. I’m not better at running than at my would-be vocation of programming. And I don’t beat up geeks. (Hell, I am a geek.)

There’s a connotative difference between an athlete and a jock. Don’t get it twisted.