Post by cooljayhu on Oct 31, 2008 17:31:38 GMT -5
February 22, 2008[/b]
I collasped on my sofa as the weight of the past few months of school, homework, and training began to dissolve away. Finally, spring break. Absolutely nothing for one glorious week. Nothing but watching TV, destroying my roommate at Madden, and relaxation. I was beggining to drift to sleep when something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. The DVD that Thomas gave me. It had been collecting dust for 4 months sitting on a shelf but now something, maybe the boring lack of anything to do, compelled me to pop it in and see what he was talking about.
Upon starting it up I immediately recognized what it was. It was an interview I had given while in high school. It ended up being featured as part of an episode of Timeless about the impact of football on young people's lives. I was 16 when it was shot, unknown, unjaded, innocent. It was a much simpiler time, one where football was my life.
“What does football mean to me?” I repeated the interviewer's words. “Football means everything. Football defines who I am. Football means not having to worry about anything for a few hours each day. It means that, at least for a few hours, everything makes sense in the world. I mean it takes a special kind of person to be football player. Aside from the athleticism you need, there's a discipline and desposition you have to have to be a great player. You know that attitude that you're invicible when you put your pads on.
“Football makes you a better person in every way, at least it does for me. It teaches the value of teamwork, of having someone who's willing to do anything for you and knows that you will do the same for him. Football turns a group of random guys into a family, a brotherhood built on the concept that noone is above the team. I'm not sure that there is anything better than going to war with your brothers and coming out victorious.”
I could feel a deep sadness building up from my stomach, a desparation to be that kid again. That kid who only ever wanted to play football. I turned the TV off before I started crying and reached for the phone.
I collasped on my sofa as the weight of the past few months of school, homework, and training began to dissolve away. Finally, spring break. Absolutely nothing for one glorious week. Nothing but watching TV, destroying my roommate at Madden, and relaxation. I was beggining to drift to sleep when something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. The DVD that Thomas gave me. It had been collecting dust for 4 months sitting on a shelf but now something, maybe the boring lack of anything to do, compelled me to pop it in and see what he was talking about.
Upon starting it up I immediately recognized what it was. It was an interview I had given while in high school. It ended up being featured as part of an episode of Timeless about the impact of football on young people's lives. I was 16 when it was shot, unknown, unjaded, innocent. It was a much simpiler time, one where football was my life.
“What does football mean to me?” I repeated the interviewer's words. “Football means everything. Football defines who I am. Football means not having to worry about anything for a few hours each day. It means that, at least for a few hours, everything makes sense in the world. I mean it takes a special kind of person to be football player. Aside from the athleticism you need, there's a discipline and desposition you have to have to be a great player. You know that attitude that you're invicible when you put your pads on.
“Football makes you a better person in every way, at least it does for me. It teaches the value of teamwork, of having someone who's willing to do anything for you and knows that you will do the same for him. Football turns a group of random guys into a family, a brotherhood built on the concept that noone is above the team. I'm not sure that there is anything better than going to war with your brothers and coming out victorious.”
I could feel a deep sadness building up from my stomach, a desparation to be that kid again. That kid who only ever wanted to play football. I turned the TV off before I started crying and reached for the phone.
