How does a champion think?

The role that “sports”, and those that “play” them has reached in this society is absurd. With very few exceptions, the so called champions you adore are pompous, self-centered, ego maniacs. Pathetic human beings with a grossly exaggerated sense of self-worth. To attempt to emulate such freaks of nature is ,at best, unbecoming.

Most every walk of life is filled with people who have truly overcome adversity and failure. People without natural gifts who have worked hard and accomplished far more than satisfying the bloodlust or inferiority based fantasies of the hero worshipers. Few of the people who truly contribute are ever recognized, let alone emulated.

A true champion is someone who can create something from nothing. Someone who can pass along knowledge. Someone who can overcome a disability, and excel. Someone who can live his day to day life with dignity and honor. It has nothing to do with jumping higher, shooting a lower score, or beating the shit out of an opponent.

People who devote their lives to being the best at a meaningless game for personal glory are not to be exhaled, but pitied. The only thing they have to teach us is how not to live one’s life.
 
Quote from tampa:

...Most every walk of life is filled with people who have truly overcome adversity and failure. People without natural gifts who have worked hard and accomplished far more than satisfying the bloodlust or inferiority based fantasies of the hero worshipers. Few of the people who truly contribute are ever recognized, let alone emulated.

A true champion is someone who can create something from nothing. Someone who can pass along knowledge. Someone who can overcome a disability, and excel. Someone who can live his day to day life with dignity and honor. It has nothing to do with jumping higher, shooting a lower score, or beating the shit out of an opponent...

The only thing they have to teach us is how not to live one’s life.
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Tampa,

I understand your basing your opinions on your personal experience...interesting post that reveals a lot about you.

Here's my personal opinion about this new bat channel...I'll try not to be so long winded.

I know this guy that was born at birth with one leg.

He grew up poor and was abused and was a straight A student...finish number one in his high school graduating class and excelled in acadamics at a prestigious university.

Till this day...he has formed several local organizations that helps the disable or handicapp and abused kids.

He was also a jock, a national champion athlete that competed against athletes with 2 legs.

He was also my hero, helped me get through some difficult times in high school and he was my high school coach.

He turned down jobs at universities so he can spend more time with teenagers.

I guess it was his way of giving back.

He once told me he never consider himself at a disadvantage and that was his edge.

I know another champion athlete that is a lawyer for a non-profit organization that helps the poor.

Also, I personally know a professional athlete (old college buddy) that plays football in the NFL.

Years ago his wife's home town was devasted by a tornado. He "annonymously" donated 2.5 million to help rebuild the community.

When he was in college he tutor for free to disadvantage students that needed additional academic help outside the free services the university was providing.

I myself was a star athlete...I've given lots to my community and have personally seen more death in my childhood than you can ever imagine.

I now live in another country and give plenty to my community here.

Why? Someone set an example, drew a line in the sand with one leg and dared me to cross over it.

Someone that wasn't afraid to live and wanted the world to see.

Tampa...you may want to spend a little more time looking beyond a champions ability to jump high, run faster, swim longer, foot dribble a soccer ball better, faster reflex playing ping pong, quicker and stronger uppercut, catching a football, slam dunking a basketball, catching the base line in tennis, spiking the volleyball, crashing the hockey boards, fastest downhill ski time...

My point is this...there are champion athletes giving back to their communities more than you and I will ever know.

I feel extremely fortunate to personally know a few that can jump a lot higher than me...regardless if they have one or two legs.

Sports build healthy character...sports also expose those that have weak characters.
________________

Many days ago my coach called me about this cool commercial on TV and to say hello...something he does about this time of year as usual.

I saw it several days after he told me about it.

Here's the basics of the commercial:

There's this guy that goes into a sports shoe store. The shoe clerks looks like he's in shape.

The potential buyer sees a pair of great looking shoes and decides to try them on.

He puts the first shoe on and suddenly stands up and runs out the door.

Guess what...this guy is stealing the shoe with the clerk in hot pursuit.

They run fast...very fast...weaving in and out of the street crowd, jumping high over obstacles...looking like champion athletes...

suddenly the in shape, strong looking clerk begins to labor...struggling in his steps...slowing down...finally giving up and stops and bends over...out of breath.

Next...you see the thief still running with that nice looking shoe on his right leg and the other on his prosthetic leg.

Tampa...obviously the commercial wasn't promoting shoplifting...

what do you think it was promoting?

Tampa...don't be so hard on champion athletes or on those that are champions in other aspects of their life that has nothing to do with sports...many out there really do care.

Sounds sappy...huh.

Maybe the next time I run into my coach...

I'll take one more crack at him to see who really is better...without the screaming fans, without people yelling profanity from the stands...

just me against him and nobody else.

I've only beaten him once out of a dozen times :mad:

P.S. I intentionally omitted your first paragraph from your quote because its rude, bitter, sad, lacks taste and offensive.

NihabaAshi
 
Quote from tampa:

The role that “sports”, and those that “play” them has reached in this society is absurd...
.
.
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People who devote their lives to being the best at a meaningless game for personal glory are not to be exhaled, but pitied. The only thing they have to teach us is how not to live one’s life.
More...

Isn't trading a meaningless game for personal glory?
 
I like this thread but I am one sick freak

Laughter is a great relief for a stressful day of trading

2 points for tampa:D

I prefer your incarnation as John Q Public though.(you sure know how to fan the fire)

Tampa, I consider you the "Champion" of agitating the minds of those who get their self esteem from playing sports.

Another 2 points for Tampa:D
 
Quote from tampa:

The role that “sports”, and those that “play” them has reached in this society is absurd. With very few exceptions, the so called champions you adore are pompous, self-centered, ego maniacs. Pathetic human beings with a grossly exaggerated sense of self-worth. To attempt to emulate such freaks of nature is ,at best, unbecoming.

Most every walk of life is filled with people who have truly overcome adversity and failure. People without natural gifts who have worked hard and accomplished far more than satisfying the bloodlust or inferiority based fantasies of the hero worshipers. Few of the people who truly contribute are ever recognized, let alone emulated.

A true champion is someone who can create something from nothing. Someone who can pass along knowledge. Someone who can overcome a disability, and excel. Someone who can live his day to day life with dignity and honor. It has nothing to do with jumping higher, shooting a lower score, or beating the shit out of an opponent.

People who devote their lives to being the best at a meaningless game for personal glory are not to be exhaled, but pitied. The only thing they have to teach us is how not to live one’s life.
More...


Hey Tampa,

This may shock you, but despite our earlier debate, I actually agree with almost everything you said here.
Listen, I came from an impoverished background, and lost my mom at an early age. So I do know a bit about adversity away from the playing field. Anyway, sports was my outlet to keep me out of jail, or worse. I was pretty good at it. I happened to have learned some things about life playing sports that has helped me be successful in life. I played for the sheer love of accomplishing something for the first time in my life. BUT...when my playing days were over and it was time to get on with life and be a man, I also had no problem putting my sports career behind me and recognizing that what I was able to do on a grassy field didn't mean squat when it came to the responsibilities of a husband and a father. We all draw upon key successes in our past to try to make our futures better. Mine happened to be in sports. Yours apparently did not. And that's OK. We are all different, and thank God we are. What pissed me off was your first statement that basically implied that all athletes are worthless assholes, because they are athletes. If I would have started this debate by saying that anyone who isnt into sports is an asshole, you would have been all over me. At least I hope you would have, because that statement is also stupid.
I do agree with you that the emphasis on sports heroes in today's society has gotten out of hand. Yes, I agree that many people born without physical gifts are much more worthy of glory for their accomplishments than most, yet they are never recognized. You said:" A true champion is someone who can create something from nothing. Someone who can pass along knowledge. Someone who can overcome a disability, and excel. Someone who can live his day to day life with dignity and honor. It has nothing to do with jumping higher, shooting a lower score, or beating the shit out of an opponent." I actually agree. But I would also say that a true champion is "someone who works hard to get the absolute most they can out of whatever tools they were born with, be they mental or physical, while disregarding the many distractions and negative thoughts from those who don't have the courage to try." Yes, it is sad that we live in a society that is so starved for heroes that the best that most people can come up with is to idolize someone who plays games for big bucks. What ever happened to the notion of idolizing your dad? I guess the problem with that is that too many dads today dont spend any time with their kids. They are either too caught up in their careers (which is every bit as bad as your proverbial "jock" playing for meaningless glory), or they dont want to face up to the responsibility that they created.
I also think it's time for the hero-worshippers to "get a life" of their own. Instead of spending time sitting on your ass idolizing someone else's accomplishments, get off your ass and do something with your own life. Unfortunately, we live in a spoiled, spoon-fed society, and most people have been "trained" to take the easiest path, which is usually the wrong path.
 
I am not "not into sports" - I am a life long fan. It may also surprise you to know that I not only played organized sports, but truly enjoyed it.

My problem is the level of sports worship we have achieved. I grant you that most "jocks" are no worse than the rest of us - and none of them are any better.

We are raising up a generation that seem only interested in being star athletes, movie or rock stars - in part because off the absurd value we place on celebrity. How a successful athlete thinks carries no more weight then how a successful butcher thinks.
 
Quote from tampa:

I am not "not into sports" - I am a life long fan. It may also surprise you to know that I not only played organized sports, but truly enjoyed it.

My problem is the level of sports worship we have achieved. I grant you that most "jocks" are no worse than the rest of us - and none of them are any better.

We are raising up a generation that seem only interested in being star athletes, movie or rock stars - in part because off the absurd value we place on celebrity. How a successful athlete thinks carries no more weight then how a successful butcher thinks.
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Hey, I totally agree with you on this. I wish you had started this issue with that statement. The key word is SUCCESSFUL. That is the mindset that I think this thread originally was trying to capture. Success is a state of mind and a way of life, not an isolated tangible accomplishment. It is irrelevant whether the "arena" is a sports field, or a classroom, or an assembly line, or whatever......BUT....I place more blame on those of us who are raising this generation than I do the athletes, movie stars, and rock stars.
 
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