I heard, what was to me, a tragedy a couple months ago. This person was
describing their stepson who loved basketball and the only thing he wanted to
do was to play it. Sadly, he has what I have and, unlike me, has no eye-to-hand
coordination. This person was frustrated and said he was constantly telling the
kid to give it up and there was no chance he could ever play with anyone
because it would be too shameful for him.
Let’s use
another example. Every four years, the world turns its eyes on the Olympics
(yes, I know it is summer/winter two years apart, but we will just be using the
summer games). While the sports of swimming or badminton only get the spotlight
every four years, for the athletes competing, it is the culmination of their
life’s work. Think about it. For them, they have tried for years, and for most
of them they only get one shot at it. If you don’t know, the Olympic team is
determined by the trials. What that means is that for the foot races, the top
three go to the Olympics and everyone else is going to be watching from home.
If you were one
of those athletes competing for a shot on your country’s team, imagine the
pressure. Your entire life has come down to that one run. If you run like the
wind, you go to the biggest sporting event in the world; should you have any
type of bobble, you have wasted years in training and also any chance you had
at being on a Wheaties box.
It is sad when
people come so close to their dreams, but fall an inch short. I can’t imagine
what it is like to be that last person not to make the team. All the training,
all the hours, all the sweat was for naught.
For those
athletes that fall short, it must be devastating. They put their entire life
into something, only to have it fall short. I’m sure you’re thinking I’m trying
to get a job as one of those writer’s that do the human interest side of the
Olympics, and maybe I should, but I do have a point I must cover before I go on
that venture.
Anything I put
my mind to is the only thing that matters, as the chapter with that title said.
Even though something might last a month, or a year, it is as important as life
itself. How then, as that kid that wants to play basketball, can one deny them
of it? The step-dad mentioned that the kid knew everything about the history
and all the great players and anything about the sport. If something means
everything to a person, how can one deny them?
I will say I got
lucky that I discovered this oddity that is my writing ability. It probably
saved me, as racing was the only thing that mattered. Unlike that kid, I did
have talent on what I wanted to do, but nevertheless I was not racing at a
professional level. Thankfully no one ever denied me of what I wanted to do on
the basis of talent.
I’m sure there
are thousands of kids out there like the one whose story I heard. Whatever
their Kansas may be, someone is
telling them that it is hopeless, stupid, or unattainable. This is nothing
short of a tragedy. Even if that kid was horrible at the sport, let him try.
Don’t destroy the love of the game. I think the kid was 12, so don’t destroy
the sport for him. Perhaps, he will become a ref or a coach of it. Whatever the
case, I’m sure, for that one athlete who was one position short of making the
Olympic team, they would much rather try and fail than to never have gotten the
chance. Kansas may fail, but don’t be
the one who’s to blame.
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