"Football is like life. It teaches work, sacrifice, perseverance, competitive drive, selflessness, and
respect for authority."
– Vince Lombardi, football coach
The majority of people I've known throughout my life have told me stories about their childhood and about how growing up they had an instant infatuation for sports from the moment their father or older brother put a ball, bat, racket, stick, glove, etc. in their hands. It seems as though it is just our human nature to want to compete by means of athletic ventures in which we can feel accomplished by working hard at something, and then having that satisfaction of our hard work pay off with a victory, and in some cases even living with the anguish of defeat. It's the competitive nature each one of us possesses inside our hearts and our souls which drives us to keep going even after a crushing defeat. We grow to love the game we play, and everything it stands for. We follow the pros and someday hope to grow up and be just like them, celebrating gloriously on the field in front of thousands as if you were in ancient Rome on center stage in the Coliseum after having just slain your competitor. Sports aren't just games people play to stay in shape, feed their competitive edge, or even to impress people with athleticism. No. Sports are much more than that. They're a lifestyle, a culture, an art.
Growing up, I was probably on the opposite side of the spectrum of other kids who took up sports at a young age. Sure, I played on the local youth soccer, baseball, and basketball teams, but that was just because my parents pushed me to be involved in something. And yes, it was fun, however I wasn't interested or motivated enough to play at a level where one would be considered "good". My interests at a young age consisted of nature, animals, science, and the power rangers. I wasn't really an outcast among my family for no parent would scorn a young child for admiring educational subjects, however I was in the sense that both of my siblings played and loved sports. Why not me? I was athletic, I could run faster then almost every kid my age, I could jump, I could throw, and I could catch, yet sports never seemed to be a main focal point to me until I was randomly introduced to the game of football.
As I had mentioned before, my parents had always pushed me to play sports and I complied usually with no discontent. I was on my towns local swim team probably around the 5th or 6th grade and swim season took place during late fall and into early winter, football season. While away at a swim meet in another town, I was quietly awaiting my turn to swim in a race when I overheard two other teammates huddling over a radio listening to a playoff match up between the New England Patriots and another team whose identity was lost in the sands of time. I remember thinking to myself that the importance of that game to these two other kids was really intriguing so as soon as I returned home I quickly turned on the television to catch the end of the game. Surprised to see me watching football on my own, my brother began explaining the rules of the game as I watched in confusion. I was captivated by the violence, the rush, and the adrenalin of the game. I instantly fell in love and felt I needed a team to root for. I knew it would either be the Jets or the Giants of New York for I lived in Jersey and wanted to pick a local team. I chose the Jets simply because I preferred the color green over blue. That was it, I was an instant football fanatic, specifically a Jets fanatic. I bled green when they lost (which was often), and triumphed when they won. I then began playing pick-up football games with my friends where my love and passion for the game quickly generated a skill level far exceeding the abilities of the kids I played with regularly. I soon moved on to middle school where I learned how to play organized football, which was quite different than backyard football. High school was more challenging. With bigger, faster, and stronger competition, I had to really test myself and prove I could overcome any odds with the game I adored. I frequently tested the older kids when my peers were afraid to. This not only made me better, but made me stand out. By junior year of high school I was starting as a defensive back and wide receiver. No matter how much better the competition was than me, I never gave up and always played to the best of my ability simply because I loved it. To me, football is not just a game. Its a driving passionate force that defines me. I like to consider myself a disciplined person with a tough edge who will work hard to obtain my goals. This is how the game of football has molded my competitive force today.
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