What’s so bad about watching your teammates on the field or court, scoring touchdowns and baskets?
It’s demoralizing.
But not if you look at the glass as half full of water or guava juice.
If you ever played a sport, you know exactly what I’m talking about. At one time in your life, you’ve been the person riding the pine.
And if you made it off the bench a couple of times to get a taste of what it’s like to play, then you definitely relished the opportunity by showing your stuff. If you haven’t, then that’s why you’re currently throwing around memos instead of footballs.
Even the greatest hoopster of all time, Michael Jordan, sat on the bench.
So don’t fret or blame anyone else but yourself for getting splinters while warming the bench.
Practice is where you make your statement. Practice is like running up an escalator — when you reach the top, it’s as if you’ve cheated yourself.
As is practice when you don’t put out 100 percent on wind sprints or you try to save energy on a certain play because you know there’ll be conditioning after practice.
Most athletes don’t cherish sitting next to the coach during the game. They’d rather be hearing their coach barking out signals while on the floor.
The only way to earn some playing time is to give your coach no reason to keep you off the playing surface.
Team sports teach us a ton of things. It’s life in an uncorked bottle. Once we make the connection between life and sports, we begin to gain confidence about situations that are closely related.
For instance, when you dive into your first job, you quickly remember what it takes to be part of a team.
But sports doesn’t teach us to sit on the bench. It just happens and when it happens to you, it’s a tough spot, like being a football player in a ballet class.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation is just a month away from its 2006-07 season.
There will be many prepsters who think they should be a part of the starting rotation.
There will be many athletes who won’t get their shot and many others who might take a bite into their first action after a few games.
However, it’s important to remember that as fast as you make it onto the court, it could be just as fast when you’re asked to take a seat.
Just remember to never be satisfied. Always try to improve, no matter how good you may be.
Surround yourself with athletes who have great work ethics, but most importantly, great attitudes as well.
Because that’s where it starts — in your head. As soon as you think you can’t do something, that’s exactly when you’ll see yourself riding the pine.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
