Unfortunately, what we often see today are athletes quitting sports because they didn’t make the varsity squad. To make matters worse, many parents condone such behavior. Allow me to demonstrate to you why such attitudes are contrary to building character and mature adults.

I knew a junior high athlete who went out for football in seventh and eighth grades. He did have one physical problem though; he only weighed 75 pounds. But that didn’t stop him from trying out for defensive middle (or nose) guard. Needless to say, he did not fair out too well in that position. In fact, he wasn’t very good at any spot on the squad. During his two years on the middle school squad, he only entered the game if the score was 40 to nothing, either way. Still, he was an inspiration to his teammates. Here’s why.

At the beginning of every practice, the team would depart from the bus and run two laps around the perimeter of the field (approximately one mile). Our boy was always first over the finish line. And the coach often had him lead the warm-up and finish-up exercises, because he never missed a practice session.

On those rare occasions when he did get in the game at his nose guard position and tackled an adversary, he would be dragged by his much larger opponent until one of his teammates assisted in making the tackle. That was the extent of his glory days on the gridiron, but his coach never forgot him and his perseverance.

He often mentioned the young lad’s name years later when some talented football player was loafing at practice or during competition.

Does such dedication pay off when at the time it seems so futile? You betcha!

This boy’s junior high football coach and I had the extreme pleasure of applauding him at a sports banquet. You see, he was being inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame for his many achievements as a lightweight wrestler.

It’s funny, he often talked about how amazed he was with some matmen on his team, who came to every practice but never wrestled a varsity match. He said, “If I were them, I think I would have quit.”

Ironically, he did not realize that he was the same as them on the junior high football team.

… on the Eccentricity of Champions

There is one characteristic that elevates true champions above others, and that is “Eccentricity!”

I can’t speak for other champions, but during my competitive heyday, I did things that many would say was a bit “abnormal.” Consider the following.

First of all, it must be understood that practices at my high school were very, very intense. (I guess that’s why our mentors, Mal Paul and Lyman “Beans” Weaver, are still referred to as two of the greatest coaches in the annals of Pennsylvania scholastic wrestling.) But my desire to excel didn’t end at the close of daily workouts.

In the evening hours, I made it a point to run an extra five miles in leather street shoes. (There was no such thing as running footwear back then.) And when it snowed, I put galoshes over those same clogs and trudged through mounds of whiteness. Often during these treks, my classmates would drive past, smothering me with cute remarks and various cat calls. I just nodded congenially and kept on truckin’.

Moreover, I’d always finish my nightly stride-and-sprint work by the school’s gymnasium. If there was something going on inside, I would head for the 30-foot rope and climb it twice, without stopping, without touching the floor, and without using my legs. If the facility was unoccupied and locked, I knew how to open the doors and then I climbed the rope in the dimness of a street light. Once I even broke the door in my frenzy to make the climb.

Dad wasn’t too excited about paying that bill, and I paid dearly at home, but I still kept climbing – on the sly.

And finally, my older brother Floyd and I often worked-out after practice on the blanket-covered living room floor. I also pumped iron for muscle-endurance three nights a week.

Yes, I was a little crazy in those days; some say I still am. But champions are eccentric, and Floyd and I wanted to join their ranks – we got our wish.

Wrestling Words of Wisdom

“Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.”

– Louis Pasteur