2008 Woodie Awards
Appreciate the small things
Richard Lowe
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
As I stood and watched spring practice for MT's football team this past Friday, a smile spread across my face. Many people liken the feeling that arose to memories of high school football and, yes, they did creep into my mind. The explanation, however, is simpler.
I have been motivated to appreciate the small things in life. I have lost friends in my life to early death or bad decisions but one thing remains constant. You can't take everything in life so seriously.
Although this is a lesson for everybody, the best teachers of this are sports fans. They range from the New York Yankees fan that stands in line at Yankee Stadium to grab bleacher seats for the Red Sox series to the Chicago Cubs fans that, no matter the record, will pack Wrigley Field from the front row to the rooftops. They understand the meaning of living for today and taking the time out to do something enjoyable.
This doesn't just stop at baseball. There are fans of Kentucky and Indiana basketball that are over the age of 60 and have never been to a game. The excuse of ticket cost can only work for so long. If you truly desire to be there, you will find a way to get there. It may mean you have to pay a pretty penny, but in the end, the price won't matter.
I can take you back to two weeks ago when you printed out your NCAA Tournament bracket and saw nothing but potential. The thought of "this could be the year" goes through everybody's mind as you try to cement your genius status. Then after the first weekend, you rip your bracket in half and just enjoy the games. To some, it may seem as a waste of time but to others it is an annual tradition that couldn't be traded for anything.
To me, life is about the buzzer beaters, walk-off home runs and overtime touchdowns. When the game starts, you don't anticipate it going down to the final play, but when the moment arrives, you can't help but to hold your breath. After I witnessed Ty Rogers send Western Kentucky to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, I saw Brandi Brown give the Lady Raiders a fighting chance by hitting a last second three pointer that brought a gym full of Kentucky fans to silence and about 200 Blue Raider fans singing an a cappella version of our fight song.
I have been motivated to appreciate the small things in life. I have lost friends in my life to early death or bad decisions but one thing remains constant. You can't take everything in life so seriously.
Although this is a lesson for everybody, the best teachers of this are sports fans. They range from the New York Yankees fan that stands in line at Yankee Stadium to grab bleacher seats for the Red Sox series to the Chicago Cubs fans that, no matter the record, will pack Wrigley Field from the front row to the rooftops. They understand the meaning of living for today and taking the time out to do something enjoyable.
This doesn't just stop at baseball. There are fans of Kentucky and Indiana basketball that are over the age of 60 and have never been to a game. The excuse of ticket cost can only work for so long. If you truly desire to be there, you will find a way to get there. It may mean you have to pay a pretty penny, but in the end, the price won't matter.
I can take you back to two weeks ago when you printed out your NCAA Tournament bracket and saw nothing but potential. The thought of "this could be the year" goes through everybody's mind as you try to cement your genius status. Then after the first weekend, you rip your bracket in half and just enjoy the games. To some, it may seem as a waste of time but to others it is an annual tradition that couldn't be traded for anything.
To me, life is about the buzzer beaters, walk-off home runs and overtime touchdowns. When the game starts, you don't anticipate it going down to the final play, but when the moment arrives, you can't help but to hold your breath. After I witnessed Ty Rogers send Western Kentucky to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, I saw Brandi Brown give the Lady Raiders a fighting chance by hitting a last second three pointer that brought a gym full of Kentucky fans to silence and about 200 Blue Raider fans singing an a cappella version of our fight song.
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