Remember those days when you were a kid and Jim McKay would open ABC's Wide World of Sports with those classic words, "the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat?"
Today 24-hour all sports channels bring us a pervasive diet of probably too much sports. People are so busy watching them, they aren't doing them. The other morning I came out of my condo just as the lady down the hallway came out of hers. I went left to the stairs, she went right, to the elevator. We met again on the seventh floor at the entrance to the gym. Where she promptly got on a Stairmaster. Pretty kooky if you ask me.
But give her points for actually doing something in the gym, unlike 90 percent of the rest of the couch potato generation.
This last weekend gave us a glimpse into the magic that even watching sports can bring to our lives. I was in New York City playing (pretty pathetically unfortunately) in a softball tournament. But it was good to get out, sweat and run around.
A while back I saw Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in the movie, "The Bucket List." (If you don't know, the name comes from creating a list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket.") Have to admit it had a powerful effect on me.
I have truly been blessed, having done many exciting things, and lived many of my dreams. My "Blessings" list includes almost 100 things such as flying the Concord, meditating in a Shaolin temple, catching a game at Wrigley Field (Clemens versus Maddox no less!), and falling in love in Paris. But I have to say the movie really resonated with me, and inspired me to create a bucket list of things yet to do.
One of them is watching a ballgame in all 30 major league baseball stadiums. And while I've been to a number, Yankee stadium was not one of them. Since the Red Sox were in town for the weekend, I took out a second mortgage and bought four box seats. The Sox scored seven, and Jim Lester shut down the hometown heathens, so it was a delicious evening. It's funny that both teams are way out of first, but of course the rivalry is so fierce it still made you feel like it was game seven of the World Series. I don't know if Yankee fans are mellowing, or they're simply despondent right now, but my friends and I weren't even harassed for wearing our Boston gear!
Meanwhile on Saturday afternoon, the Williams sisters were captivating the world from Wimbledon. They may have some issues, but who doesn't? Give them credit for overcoming a lot of things to become the greatest in the world at what they do. And inspiring millions along the way.
I knew Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were in the men's finals Sunday, but I wasn't watching. The odds say Roger always wins on grass, and I had to unpack and repack, exchanging Adidas for Armani for the next trip. But that's why they play the game...
Knowing my love for the muscleman from Majorca, Jeannie Kidd called me and demanded that I turn on the match immediately, as Rafa was one point away from winning it.
Of course that one point away turned into an epic battle that lasted a couple hours more, and has to go down as the greatest tennis match ever played since the earth's crust cooled. Roger was serving heat-seeking missiles and Rafa was rocketing volleys back from inconceivable positions. What a glorious demonstration of guts, determination, and the power of the human spirit. But it got even better after the match was over...
Let's be real here: Roger isn't exactly known for being Mr. Charisma off the court. But he handled the loss with dignity, poise, and grace. And Rafa handled winning with humility, charm, and class. How refreshing to see a winner crowned without all the posing, pretense, and chest beating. (Or tales of how God took time out from his busy schedule to make the last shot go in.) Two true and wonderful champions.
But maybe the best sports story of the weekend took place off the field of play...
That's when outfielder Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers was elected to the major league baseball All Star Game. Josh was a first-round draft pick that seemed to have it all, and then lost it all, as he spiraled into four years of alcohol and heroin addiction. He's clean and sober now, and racking up stats like a true superstar. But his biggest victory is over the dependency. He'll have a chance to tell that story to the world, and what a story to tell.
Sports have the ability to lift spirits, build pride, and highlight what is best about the humanity. They can inspire us to be the best we can be, in any endeavor. As we head toward the Olympics and the feel good stories certain to follow, I hope you'll take time to reflect on your own matches to play.
Please nurture your own health and skills. Go out and compete in something, whether it's church league softball, your bowling league, or wheelchair basketball. Get out and break a sweat doing something where you're the participant, not the spectator. And win or lose, know that it's really about doing your own personal best. And know that whatever sport you do, it's a lesson for the real match we play, the game called life.
If you don't have a bucket list, there's no better time than now to do one. What are the things you want to do, have and become, before you cash in your chips? And what's the championship you're competing in right now?
Your next match may be becoming the most amazing mom or dad, a true friend to someone in need, or a volunteer for a worthy cause. It may be just being there to hold someone, mentoring another, or helping a child with their homework. These are the victories that last. Make the most of them!
-RG
P.S. I'm back in Sydney, Australia on another around the world tour. I'll check in along the way and fill you in how things are going.
© MMXI Randy Gage. All Rights Reserved.
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