I never watched very many sports, except for baseball when
my Dad was alive. I enjoyed going to
Dodger games with him. My husband and I
have gone to three Diamondbacks games in the 17 years we have lived in
Arizona. We live more than 200 miles
from where they play.
My husband isn’t a huge sports fan either, although he will
occasionally watch football, golf or tennis.
He doesn’t follow any teams.
I am, however, an avid Olympics fan. I don’t enjoy watching every sport –
wrestling and skeet shooting, for instance, I find totally boring. However, unless I am working, during every
waking hour, I am glued to the television watching the Olympics. My husband finds me amusing to watch, because
I jump up and down, cheering and yelling at the TV. It is so exciting to me.
So, I was thinking about why – non-sports fan that I am – I
love watching and following the Olympics.
After really giving it some thought, I came up with two reasons.
One. When watching
the Olympics, we are watching young men and women who have spent many years of
their lives training, dedicating their lives to their sport. We are watching some of the best athletes in
the world, and some who are not so great, but even they have worked for years
to qualify for the Olympics. Some are
incredible athletes who have excelled at their sport, and at the Olympics,
their performance doesn’t live up to the abilities. I feel so sorry for them to have come all
this way only to disappoint themselves.
All this they have done as amateurs. They will not be paid money for all the work
they have done. (I realize, of course,
that most are supported by sponsors, their families, etc.) They have done it
for their country and the glory of the sport.
Some of the top stars will be paid for endorsing products, television
appearances and such, but they did not get involved or practice for years on
end for that reason. Instead, it is the
result of their achieving greatness and performance at the Olympics.
The second thing that I believe attracts me to the Olympics
is my patriotism for my country, the United States of America. I am so proud of the U.S. Olympic Teams. I watch them perform, what often seems to me,
impossible feats and I scream and yell and cheer MY team on! When one of our team members wins a race by
100th of a second, I am thrilled!
When they lose by 100th of a second, I am saddened.
Once I realized this, it made perfect sense to me. For those of you who are sports fans, this is
my perspective, my opinion, the way I see it…
Many professional athletes earn multi-millions of
dollars. Professional athletes also
worked very hard to get to the professional ranks. However, their goal was to make their sport a
career. I am certain they love their
sports too. However, their goals and
reasons for performing well are different.
So, I will continue watching the Olympics this year and
every four years thereafter as these young Olympians continue to demonstrate to
the children and adults watching them the meaning of dedication, determination
and patriotism.
To read about Julie Klein and her home-based business, visit http://julie.joinxpress.com/business.html
