Growing up in a family full of athletes of all different kinds, morning TV cartoons were replaced with ESPN’s top ten plays, the most significant of holy traditions on a Sunday was the rivalry football game, and the best gift you could give me was a gift card to Sports Authority or Dick’s Sporting Goods. I remember the countless hours spent in the garage dribbling a basketball until my hands were black from the dust on the floor and juggling a soccer ball under the street lights into the wee hours of the night. As an athlete, it doesn’t matter what sport claimed your heart, all of us die hards have one thing in common. There’s nothing in this world that quite gets your blood pumping like that of competition. It surges through your body and your love for it is exemplified in everything that you do. The camaraderie of your teammates, the intensity of a close game, the cheering of the fans and the feeling you get when you revel in success with those who’ve been there with you since the beginning of it all makes the passion you have for this sport come to life. Those feelings are something that is utterly incomparable to anything else that life has to offer.
To The Sport That Changed My Life,
You were my first love. You taught me so many things about myself, about life, and about the lessons that come along with it. When I reflect on my childhood, you’re the one thing that stands out most prominently. The good memories are ones I’ll cherish forever, and all the blood, sweat and tears put into you will never be forgotten.
As I walk by kids playing you outside it takes me back to my first practice, nervous, confused and afraid. But you swept me completely off my feet, mesmerized me with your endless possibilities, and showed me a side of life I’d never seen before. For the first time in my life I felt like I truly belonged, things began to make sense, and words such as happiness, passion and bodily peace started to form completely different and far deeper meanings. You taught me how to be open to possibilities while accepting constructive criticism. You gave me such a strong sense of self confidence in not only my own life, but having the strength to also believe in others.
Day after day, practice after practice, I slowly started to find my niche and began to form some real true, and genuine relationships with some of my teammates. Shortly, I started to realize the bond between my teammates and I were so strong, especially after years and years of playing with one another, cheering each other on, trusting in one another and accomplishing so many things together made us like a family. A family that was diverse at most, but a family nonetheless, and I loved it. Their bonds were sometimes the only thing I could count on in the most difficult of times. You taught me that everyone has a place in this world and because of you I gained some of my closest friends.
It didn’t matter if it was rain or shine, if I was sick or injured, or if I had other priorities that should have taken precedence over you, you could always count on me to be there, practicing and loving every single second of it. Because of you, I learned work ethic. I learned that no matter what someone tells you, if you work hard enough and have the drive to do something, you can really do it. And you can actually become really good at it. You taught me that even though there is no “I” in “team”, there is one in “destiny” and I am the only one in charge of that. If I wanted something, you taught me that I had to go out there and get it because no one else was going to do it for me, and I didn’t want it that way either. Because of you, I am more successful than I could have ever been without you.
Because of you, I have gained so many beautiful, amazing and truly breath taking memories. I’ve learned so much about the diversity of people, the strength in numbers, and most importantly the power of persuasion, whether that be with myself or that of others. You’ve given me so many skills that I can undoubtedly claim are the reason that I am who I am today, and why I am so proud of where I came from. I vow to you to live the rest of my life as a warrior from your descent and promise to fight till the day I die for the things that you’ve so passionately taught me. Without you, I really don’t think life would mean nearly half of what it means to me now. Thank you for all you’ve done and all I know you’ll continue to do not only for me, but for all the other people’s lives you’ll greatly affect in the future.
Sincerely,
Your most devoted fan
