My father taught us many of our life lessons on the ball field. He showed us how to be team players by cheering and encouraging all the players on his team, even the ones who weren't natural athletes. He insisted that you run out onto the playing field and then you run back to the dugout so that we would know how to show pride for our team. We avoided anything he called "bush league" behavior such as throwing the bat or talking smack about the other team. Anybody who behaved in a "bush league" manner was benched. We learned how to mess up a play, shake it off, and start fresh with the next batter. We learned to be gracious winners and losers.
Growing up in a family of gifted athletes, I have watched thousands of hours of televised sports, especially the Olympics. Every time an athlete from the U.S. competed, my father would put our flag out, even in our sub-zero temperatures. In 1980, we screamed "U. S. A." while watching the young Olympic hockey team. After every game he would say, "You see that, you see that! Never, ever give up." When they finally won the gold medal, my father pulled our flag off of the side of the house, stood on the porch and proudly waved it around until his feet got cold.
Those athletes and their coaches were our heroes. They were from the U.S.A. They were the best. And, since they were the best, we were. I understood why my father stood out in the cold and waved our flag. We were the U.S.A. The best.
Every 4 years, the champions inspire us. These men and women set aside most of their lives to achieve greatness. I wanted to be them. Just watching them set their eyes on the prize, do the work and get there made me want to be better in school, sports, dance, all of it.
When I was in high school, I went the volleyball camp. One of the coaches had just competed in the Olympics. She didn't talk much about it, but we all knew: she was a champion.
In the last few days, I have heard rumors of athletes griping that they were competing against gymnasts that were too young and that's why they didn't win gold. I also heard someone allude to the fact that the Chinese officials were messing with the schedule so that the U.S. athletes were caught off guard and, therefore, didn't medal.
I know there is more whining, I just can't listen.
Champions do not complain. They go out and get the job done. It would be a beautiful thing if the playing field were always equal and fair. Get real. By the time they get to the Olympics, athletes need to have a plan for the these moments of poor sportsmanship or just plain evil. Everybody wants to win. When you are the best, you rise above it all.
A true champion is all action and no talk - with the possible exception of saying how blessed she feels to be able to represent the U.S.A.
More than most sporting events, Olympic athletes have honor. They represent us. They sacrifice everything for the privilege. When they start whining and crying about the laces on their skates being broken, I lose respect. It's bush league.
Everybody wants to win. We love to count our medals and feel superior. A champion leaves it all on the court or on the field or in the gym or in the pool. Whatever the results, what happened was the past. A champion accepts what is and moves on keeping the focus on what's important - what can be made of this moment.
When I was a kid, these people were my gurus. They were the perfect combination of grace and effort. If we could apply a bit of what bring to their sport, we'd see greatness too. They represented the best of who could be.
No more excuses. We need champions, not whiners.
2 comments:
your dad really knew what it meant to be on a team. Everything you did wasn't just a reflection of yourself, but of your team mates. It made you think about the people around you. Their winning was as important as your winning.
I think you're right. These athletes today are more concerned with their own image, than they are of the image of the country they are representing. Too much me me me. No humility.
I think your dad would have made a good olympic coach.
What a difference team can make! I was joyed to read about dad and our olympic memories as a family. I recently attended a meeting where the US olympic men's basketball coach, coach K (no idea how to spell it)was the keynote speaker. He spoke about getting the best in the world to be a team, rather than individuals. You see the best players in the world took the bronze 4 years ago and whined. What a disgrace. Coach K explained how he started his coaching efforts 2 years ago by flying all over the country to meet with Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo and the rest of the team that he had chosen to gain their confidence and ask for their very best as teammates. He thought it important to look them in the eyes and ask for their committment. He said that it used to be that the US could show up and win gold, like the "Dream Team", but now the rest of the world had progressed in the game of basketball and team defense and unselfishness would be the two cornerstones of success. He also talked about the importance of communication, trust, love, commitment and hard work. Now the US team is one win away from the gold. What a difference team has made with these super athletes. I am grateful to be on your team. TL
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