Fall athletes are full of talent and passion
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
No athletes have more passion than high school athletes.
Sure, not all of them are the best, most won’t play in college, and even an smaller amount will even sniff professional leagues.
But going into my sixth season covering high school athletics, no athletes play with more dedication than high school athletes.
I will argue with you until I turn blue.
The student-athlete is a rare breed. They play for free. They play for the sport itself or to be around friends.
Just like when football coaches say football isn’t for everyone, playing sports in high school isn’t for everyone, either.
Trust me, I’ve tried most of the fall sports, and let me tell you, I can’t play any of them worth a lick.
To play athletics, along with keeping grades up, is a tough thing to do, and though football is my favorite sport above any other sport, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a respect for all fall sports.
Yes, that is correct, I enjoy each sport I go to, just some more than others.
Is that a crime?
For example, there is no way in the heated house of the devil I could ever keep up with any cross country runner.
ZERO CHANCE!
No way! Not enough oxygen around for me to suck in that would allow me to keep up with those athletes.
Heck, I am cramping (breath) in my side (breath) just thinking about how painful that sport would be for me.
(Sucking in lots of air...)
OK, I think I am OK now. (I think.)
Look at me, I ain’t built for long distance runnin’.
I have a massive respect for athletes who can run that far without something or someone chasing them. Cross country is about a runner against a clock (I think), and I know, 100 percent, no matter how much I practiced, I could NOT do what those athletes do.
Plus, there is no way I could run outside on trails like those athletes do. I am lucky to keep up with a treadmill speed in an air-conditioned gym with a self-predicted slope for two miles. Actually, thinking about it makes me want to down a Gatorade as I pound the keys on the Mac laptop.
Actually, if I keep writing about even attempting cross county, I might get sick.
In fact, I get worn out and break out into a waterfall of sweat just standing around, waiting for the runners to complete the course and cross the finish line at a cross country event. Hey, it gets pretty hot outside in September!
Did I mention need a Gatorade?
And now to the game of soccer.
As stated last year, I learned about the game and became a fan of the high school version, but I am pretty sure I can go another four years without the World Cup. Actually, let’s go an even 12 years before I care about the World Cup.
Is MLS even still around?
Really, I could go pretty much forever without the World Cup.
The game of soccer has to be hard for the fact there is so much running, and me and running for a long period of time don’t get along, especially with a clock that starts at 40 minutes, goes to zero, and then repeats again.
My knees aren’t the best, and I don’t have the temperament to not run someone completely over, so for that, I have the utmost respect for soccer players.
Plus, soccer involves running while trying to maneuver around with a soccer ball, or having the reflexes to block a ball coming at you while trying to guard an oversized goal.
How do you not run into someone with the ball? I would be a terrible soccer player.
And in terrible, I mean REALLY terrible.
Then there is volleyball.
Any volleyball uniform and me equals no fans in attendance.
Plus, have you seen how hard the girls spike the ball? It would probably be entertaining seeing me take a volleyball straight to the mug because my reflexes are sorta slow.
I’ve seen players get slammed in the face with a volleyball, and to stand there and take that, I think I would just move out of the way.
Tennis, I tried in college.
I got the credit for the class because I showed up at 8 a.m. every morning (two days a week) for a semester. Though it was fun, I pretty much had the worst serve ever. Plus, again, with my temperament when I play sports (I am starting to realize I might be too competitive for my own good when I play sports), I can’t afford to buy a new racket if one breaks as it slams onto the ground when it leaves my hand in pure anger.
But, again, the athletes who play tennis are good at what they do. I’ve tried and tried to get better at tennis, but I don’t have the aim or control to get the ball to land in the opposite part of the court each time I serve. Not to mention the stop-and-go ability to play the game.
Again, the guys and girls who play that sport are great athletes.
We all know how bad I am at golf. If you don’t know, well, I hit air, bunkers, and trees more than I do the green and fairways. But, I love the game a lot, and the players who possess that talent, I am amazed and jealous. I honestly wish I could play golf a tenth as good as the high school players who hit the links.
Just once before I die, I’d like to make par on nine holes. (Is that too much to ask?)
I’m not done yet.
Band and cheerleaders belong in this discussion too.
These are some talented folks (sorry, Bill, I will only use your catch phrase this one time).
They put in a lot of practice and battle the summer heat just like all other athletes. Plus, their talent to mix dance and music is incredible.
The only instrument I can play is blowing in an empty jug (like Brisco Darlin’ on “The Andy Griffith Show.” That is the best TV show ever, though it started 24 years before I was born) and well, I can’t dance my way out of a paper bag.
So to band members and cheerleaders, you too deserve credit this fall sports season because there is no way I have the talent to do what you do each week.
If you can’t tell, I’m excited for fall sports season, and I am not very good at the sports I cover.
After the few years I’ve been able to watch high school athletics, I get more amazed each season at the talent in all aspects of the sporting life here in Highland County.
Good luck to all student-athletes this fall.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Sure, not all of them are the best, most won’t play in college, and even an smaller amount will even sniff professional leagues.
But going into my sixth season covering high school athletics, no athletes play with more dedication than high school athletes.
I will argue with you until I turn blue.
The student-athlete is a rare breed. They play for free. They play for the sport itself or to be around friends.
Just like when football coaches say football isn’t for everyone, playing sports in high school isn’t for everyone, either.
Trust me, I’ve tried most of the fall sports, and let me tell you, I can’t play any of them worth a lick.
To play athletics, along with keeping grades up, is a tough thing to do, and though football is my favorite sport above any other sport, that doesn’t mean I don’t have a respect for all fall sports.
Yes, that is correct, I enjoy each sport I go to, just some more than others.
Is that a crime?
For example, there is no way in the heated house of the devil I could ever keep up with any cross country runner.
ZERO CHANCE!
No way! Not enough oxygen around for me to suck in that would allow me to keep up with those athletes.
Heck, I am cramping (breath) in my side (breath) just thinking about how painful that sport would be for me.
(Sucking in lots of air...)
OK, I think I am OK now. (I think.)
Look at me, I ain’t built for long distance runnin’.
I have a massive respect for athletes who can run that far without something or someone chasing them. Cross country is about a runner against a clock (I think), and I know, 100 percent, no matter how much I practiced, I could NOT do what those athletes do.
Plus, there is no way I could run outside on trails like those athletes do. I am lucky to keep up with a treadmill speed in an air-conditioned gym with a self-predicted slope for two miles. Actually, thinking about it makes me want to down a Gatorade as I pound the keys on the Mac laptop.
Actually, if I keep writing about even attempting cross county, I might get sick.
In fact, I get worn out and break out into a waterfall of sweat just standing around, waiting for the runners to complete the course and cross the finish line at a cross country event. Hey, it gets pretty hot outside in September!
Did I mention need a Gatorade?
And now to the game of soccer.
As stated last year, I learned about the game and became a fan of the high school version, but I am pretty sure I can go another four years without the World Cup. Actually, let’s go an even 12 years before I care about the World Cup.
Is MLS even still around?
Really, I could go pretty much forever without the World Cup.
The game of soccer has to be hard for the fact there is so much running, and me and running for a long period of time don’t get along, especially with a clock that starts at 40 minutes, goes to zero, and then repeats again.
My knees aren’t the best, and I don’t have the temperament to not run someone completely over, so for that, I have the utmost respect for soccer players.
Plus, soccer involves running while trying to maneuver around with a soccer ball, or having the reflexes to block a ball coming at you while trying to guard an oversized goal.
How do you not run into someone with the ball? I would be a terrible soccer player.
And in terrible, I mean REALLY terrible.
Then there is volleyball.
Any volleyball uniform and me equals no fans in attendance.
Plus, have you seen how hard the girls spike the ball? It would probably be entertaining seeing me take a volleyball straight to the mug because my reflexes are sorta slow.
I’ve seen players get slammed in the face with a volleyball, and to stand there and take that, I think I would just move out of the way.
Tennis, I tried in college.
I got the credit for the class because I showed up at 8 a.m. every morning (two days a week) for a semester. Though it was fun, I pretty much had the worst serve ever. Plus, again, with my temperament when I play sports (I am starting to realize I might be too competitive for my own good when I play sports), I can’t afford to buy a new racket if one breaks as it slams onto the ground when it leaves my hand in pure anger.
But, again, the athletes who play tennis are good at what they do. I’ve tried and tried to get better at tennis, but I don’t have the aim or control to get the ball to land in the opposite part of the court each time I serve. Not to mention the stop-and-go ability to play the game.
Again, the guys and girls who play that sport are great athletes.
We all know how bad I am at golf. If you don’t know, well, I hit air, bunkers, and trees more than I do the green and fairways. But, I love the game a lot, and the players who possess that talent, I am amazed and jealous. I honestly wish I could play golf a tenth as good as the high school players who hit the links.
Just once before I die, I’d like to make par on nine holes. (Is that too much to ask?)
I’m not done yet.
Band and cheerleaders belong in this discussion too.
These are some talented folks (sorry, Bill, I will only use your catch phrase this one time).
They put in a lot of practice and battle the summer heat just like all other athletes. Plus, their talent to mix dance and music is incredible.
The only instrument I can play is blowing in an empty jug (like Brisco Darlin’ on “The Andy Griffith Show.” That is the best TV show ever, though it started 24 years before I was born) and well, I can’t dance my way out of a paper bag.
So to band members and cheerleaders, you too deserve credit this fall sports season because there is no way I have the talent to do what you do each week.
If you can’t tell, I’m excited for fall sports season, and I am not very good at the sports I cover.
After the few years I’ve been able to watch high school athletics, I get more amazed each season at the talent in all aspects of the sporting life here in Highland County.
Good luck to all student-athletes this fall.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]