Archive: Opinions

When it comes to professional sports, there are few players that our youth can look up to as examples.  In American’s favorite pastime, baseball, players are using steroids and other enhancement drugs more than we can imagine.  Meanwhile, in football and basketball superstars are being charged for unthinkable crimes ranging from cruel and inhumane treatment of animals to shooting oneself in the leg. 

But there have been signs of hope.  Out in the world, you can find real athletes who compete day after day hoping to win one day.  Y. E. Yang, the professional golfer who won latest PGA tournament was ranked 110 just a few months ago.  He was virtually an unknown golfer from South Korea who started playing the game late in life at the age of 19.  To everyone’s surprise, he beat golf’s greatest living player, Tiger Woods. 

Woods was 14-0 when he was atop the leader board going into the final round of a major.  He had never lost a tournament on American soil when leading by more than one shot.  Nonetheless, years of practice, hard work, determination, and patience finally paid off for the 37 year old Yang as he won the tournament stunning the world of golf. 

In the realm of track and field, Usian Bolt, a runner from Jamaica, crossed the finish line in the 100 meter dash in just 9.58 seconds extending his title as the fastest man in the world.  It takes me longer than that to hit the slumber button on my alarm clock so I cannot imagine covering the length of an entire football in 9.58 seconds.  Like Yang and countless other athletes, Bolt’s victory came after years of intense workouts and countless practice sessions.

Last week, in our own town and in towns all over the state, school sports teams have started their fall practices.   Among those who actually participate in sports, the first weeks are affectionately known as double sessions, and in some sports, triple sessions.  The days are divided into two or three sessions emphasizing various aspects of training- fitness, agility, endurance and discipline. 

In the dewy coolness of early morning, young men and women jog out onto practice fields, dressed in their respective practice uniforms, and wait in anticipation for the coach to begin the first of many talks.  Coaches will speak about many topics, but most of all, they will demand respect, a respect that will be given to the coaches, other players, teachers, parents, and above all, themselves. 

Initially, the excitement of practice overwhelms these young athletes.  They seem immune to the rising heat and humidity.  Coaches begin slowly easing them into the rhythm of the morning practice.  As the sun rises higher in the sky, the tempo increases as well.   By noon, these future athletes are grateful for the hour or so to sit in the shade, eat their lunch, and chat with friends. 

The afternoon sessions push these kids to the brink of exhaustion.  A smart coach will know when to let up and when to ask for that last ounce of energy.  By 4:30 or 5:00 that evening, these athletes will head to the showers, pack up their dirty clothes, and head home.  Ravenous and exhausted, moms and dads will watch them gobble a plate or two of food without complaint and then head off to bed knowing that tomorrow morning will arrive much earlier than normal.  Some will even dream of becoming the next Yang, Woods, or Bolt.

The next day arrives, and coaches continue to get their kids into shape.  The demands will be too great for some, and a few will drop out.  Most will persevere and keep pace with a coach’s ever growing expectation hoping to make the squad. 

Like Yang and Bolt, our local athletes hope to achieve many goals.  Winning is just one of them.  More importantly, they will learn some of life’s important lessons.  When they hear the final whistle and the roar from the bleachers, they will understand how hard work, fair play, determination, and teamwork combine to bring victory to everyone.  And, on those occasions, when the final buzzer rings and the opposing team shouts for joy, they will know that others are just as eager to claim victory.

The chance to compete and better oneself is, perhaps, the greatest goal for each of these athletes.  The pride in knowing they have given their very best will be their greatest reward.  To the athletes, the coaches, and parents, keep in mind that it is only a game.  If you keep this in mind, the season will be a winning one regardless of the standings that are printed on paper.  Run fast, play hard, and enjoy.  That is how Yang, Bolt, and countless others experienced the thrill of victory, and accepted the agony of defeat.  And that is to the point. 

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