This isn’t a sports website. Thank god. I like sports, love playing them – I just couldn’t write about them all day (let alone watch them). There are times though when I get into sports that I’m not normally into. I love football, love the Patriots - even when they weren’t good I liked watching them. And I love hockey when I’m playing it on PS one rocking Shanahan and the Red Wings against Mark playing Bourque and the Bruins – I just don’t watch it.
My roommate came in though and threw on the Red Wings / Penguins game the other night and I was enthralled. Rarely do you see so many athletes playing at such a high level with such intensity and for so long. That was an epic game, triple overtime, the underdog making a triumphant stand against the already decided winner.
Sure, I didn’t think about it after that night and that is probably a good thing - either way though I found myself at home after my final day of teaching at Battle Mountain and instead of watching Family Guy I decided to give the game a try.
It is rare that I find myself so invested in something that means so little to me as I did tonight. The game was absolutely amazing. The players, most five years younger than I am were playing their hearts out - playing in a way that suggests that they really have found their true calling in life. They have all made it to the most important hockey series in the world and they just refused to give up – even with the cards stacked so high against them at times. Both teams – every single player – played as if this was the most important moment in their life and it would take a cold hearted inhuman person to say that isn’t impressive.
There are plenty of folks who go through life living astutely mediocre lives no matter their profession. Rarely do I feel that an athlete is more valuable in society expect in a situation where they show that dedication is what truly matters to success. A teacher is just a teacher unless they put forth the effort to be a truly astounding teacher. A police officer is just a cop unless they really believe that they can make a difference. An athlete is just an athlete unless they show the world that you can achieve greatness if you put your mind to something and refuse to give up.
The Penguins may not have achieved greatness by awards standards tonight but their players have achieved greatness by showing the world that even if you aren’t slated to be the winner you still can be just by trying your absolute hardest.