Storyline: Lessons learned from sports heroes apply in everyday life. And I’m better for it.
A few days ago, when one of my friends thumb texted me a beautiful message from his Twitter handle on the “World Friendship Day,” I paused with time and kneeled down to offer an orison for his success in life till date in return. And the same thoughts seemed reverberating in my mind when I found myself reading the latest release in the world of sport, Federer and Me, written by William Skidelsky, in a manner that would find itself a decent place in the rich tapestry of tennis literature.
I also thought how badly I was foxed and fooled by time. Yes, these days, with the work in lab and the August’s early autumn of live sport (The Ashes and English Premier League) in the stake up ahead, I hardly come into contact with any of my friends and my family, nor for that sake, thank them for being there in my life midst of all my insecurities and failures.
Little in reality, though, we fail to appreciate the real ones when celebrating or writing an event that has occurred in the world. If my foolishness pained me, it also gave me a gentle pat on the back to write something on my heroes in sport who have motivated me through immensely applauded stories and lives. Henceforth I shall try to introduce you to my childhood heroes in different sports, athletes whose lives gave me a reason to live and fight many a hostility.
It is now left for you, dear readers, to kindly understand that my list is in no abruptly made-to-order. I understand that a few of you will disagree with not finding your favorites in the list, but please pardon my ignorance and kindly allow me to tell a few lines about the ones who inspired me.
I have put my heroes in alphabetical order.
Chris Hoy (Cycling): I still remember the day when I, for the first time ever, cycled myself onto the roads. Such Joy! It was only increased when I came to know that “Cycling” is an event at the Olympics. I said to myself that I will give it a watching when the games in Sydney would unfold. Which, I did, even if keeping a good eye on my team’s outing in the hockey field.
Watching Chris made me think more deeply about the sport and its underlying genius. Hoy’s achievements are a standing proof. You can peddle away from the busiest roads and perturbing traffic (adversity) and enter a safe zone, a cycling zone. He stood on many a decent podium, riding through horrendously misplaced traffic. His work ethic–and a sense of gratitude he has for the sport–are two reasons I admire him still.
Courtesy: indiatimes.com
Dhanraj Pillay (Field Hockey): I cannot thank highly enough for this man. They say, “Great edifices are built on solid foundations.” Indeed, yes, this man has one of the most solid foundations ever. Brick by brick, layer by layer, he cemented a foundation that will not wither out till the end of time. Hockey demands a knack that would best lie in maneuvering the ball with the stick, passing through uncut layers of grass, and foxing the goalie that would–when put in black and white–demand a decent metaphor to describe.
I understand adversaries are but a passing cloud. We, as a nation have produced the best this game will ever see. In Dhyan Chand, Leslie Claudius, Shankar Lakshman, you can find a few examples. But I, as a person, saw in Pillay a man who put pride before fall and has a meekness rich in immortal highness that would least be bothered nor perturbed by any piece of arrogance. They say talent wins you a position in the team and it’s your performance that counts from then. The passion and the love for the game can hardly be matched. I can say this with pride. Pillay put many an arduous task easily to shreds and stood for the team when he was needed the most. He was neither your Walt Whitman nor a William Blake, but he certainly had poetry with stick and prose in passing the ball to the winger and a wall that hardly broke out–even when the cement in it has crashed down. As biographer Sundeep Misra says: “Watching Dhanraj play was magical, it tells us a story so personal, so universal – the story of one man’s pride and passion being humbled by the whim and fancy of the gods.”
Courtesy: indiaupdates.com
Javagal Srinath (Cricket): Well, I am flummoxed at speaking about my idol, if not excited. Not many in my circles here in the sub-continent really know that Srinath is truly, and wholly, my childhood idol. In a cricket-obsessed society like ours, many would wonder if we don’t get in touch with the sport in the earliest parts of our upbringings. We have a plethora of lads with exceptional talents to choose from, but Srinath is my pick. I was attracted by the speed of his deliveries, pushed to spells of awe. I watched him proudly represent our great nation at an international level.
For the known he was a bowler who bowled really fast–even when the odd ball was racing to boundary. He kept his cool and finished the job in a manner you would professionally appreciate. For the unknown folk he was an Indian Cricketer who, for a consistent period of time, wore the burden of being the nation’s spearhead in the international format. He kept us going. For many of my friends Srinath would not be an ideal pick but, for me, he really is. Anything less would lead to an epistolary of emotion and expression tied up in words. Srinath was not of a kind of the Caribbean greats, but he did possess a decent run with altering speeds and grace. He’d bowl deliveries that would mendaciously menace any batsmen on the top stage. He will best be remembered for being a dominating presence with the ball. He gave priceless lessons in managing injuries and getting back to form. I will forever reminisce this legend with pride and respects.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
Michael Jordan (Basketball): Nostalgia strikes richly, when remembering Michael. Time and space pushes me back to my school days, when we used to have posters of him basketing on the walls of our sports classrooms. Michael taught me to appreciate failures. Yes! In him I saw an admirable approach to attack adversity and fight for dear life. In my writing, if you really see any good, may I kindly request you to attribute a few percent of my success to Michael? I hope, you will. I have kept my cool when it demanded the most and, today, I am not in a bad position on this Planet Earth. Thank you, Michael, for your humble lessons in life and sport. I understand adversaries are but a passing cloud, so the next time life throws in a tricky situation–and asks me to fight to the real gut of my capabilities–I will look up to you (like I always did) and try to put it away. A three pointer, maybe?
Michael Phelps (Swimming): Now, then, in a land like yours, his is a tale very widely known and eulogized on many a note, which though, he richly and rightly deserves. He was about hitting the waters on a consistent basis and not worrying about the results. Phelps thought me to a never-say-die attitude and never-ever-quit method, which personally helped me during many an adversity.
Courtesy: hdw.eweb4.com
On a technical note, you may remember him for his gigantic fly. But I remember him for teaching us those priceless lessons in “stroke count,” breathing (bilateral), and a last, but not the least, to be a tough guy we dream ourselves to be. Isn’t it? Just keep thinking how tough it is to leave your comfort bed before 5 a.m. and work your gut and muscles out before 7 a.m. You will get knackered and immensely exhausted before a couple of your mates even leave their beds. To do this on regular basis–for more than 5 years–is itself, a success. If this doesn’t teach us anything about the never-ever-quit method, then what will?
I do find myself comfortable in the pool, though, but I can only dream about his 200 fly. This is word to word true. 0.01 seconds is the time that really gives me goose bumps and I can hardly resist thinking about anything but pain when seeing it. Yes! For us swimmers 0.01 means a lot. Other than Phelps, I am a big fan of Lochte’s backstroke. But, it is in Phelps, where I see every word of motivation that’s needed. I take pride in my backstroke and completing the sets. Yet I can hardly stop praising Phelps for being a silent presence between my failures and success. Phelps is the unseen moon in my life, which allowed me to see nothing short of light–during many a hostile day.
Paul Scholes (Football): Number 18 will forever be the one I treasure the most. It was the jersey number of one of the greatest midfielders the game has ever seen. His knack in passing the ball, presence of mind on the field, and understanding of the game are legendary. He has achieved many a distinguished honour in the game. Yet he remained “the common man” next door. That speaks highly about his humility and staying the same, irrespective of changing of the reality. I once wrote a poem as a tribute to him for “Football Poets” (2014), and I would like to share it with you.
Tribute to Paul Scholes
Why are you so humble, you legend on the pitch? What is your tale, your wealthy little story? For what are you known, In times past, present and future? Where will you be, when the street’s darken cold? What do you do when the whistle’s blown? When will you hog the limelight, If all you do is, play the game and disappear? Football is the life and zest of mine, Playing it is the art of mine, Old Trafford is my minstrel, In the midfield do I live, game’s tactical arsenal. Prosperity embraces in silence, Adversity slaps in the public, The aficionados call me ‘Shy Genius’, But I mean mending the midfield throes. So, when I see the light, I play, And at dark, I shuteye. Old Trafford is my heaven; Football is my life’s connotation.
(C) Ravi Teja Mandapaka, Football poets. Org, 08 – Oct – 2014
Courtesy: theaposition.com
Phil Mickelson (Golf): In countries, like mine, only a fortunate few are blessed with making a visit to the golf course in real. I am into the fourth decade of my living on Planet Earth and I haven’t visited a golf course in real. I have in the short span of understanding and reading came to know about golfers like Tiger Woods, Jyothi Randhawa, and Roy Mclroy. But it was in Phil I found my favorite.
His deeds in the Open of 2013 are an inspiration to me in many ways. But, dear readers, I will stop writing about golf here as am a bit less equipped and I need more of reading and understanding of the game to write a full-fledged article. I promise writing one such in the near future.
Roger Federer (Tennis): Why now, then, dear readers do I feel a bit uncomfortable in talking about Federer in the last paragraph of my column? Why, readers, do I feel that you might have mistaken my talking about such a colossal figure at the last? But don’t we save our favorite beer for the last pint of the day?
My friends, know that I am a Nadal fan. As a true sports fan, I say, Federer is one of the greatest players the sport has ever known and is, indeed, one of the greatest souls of the world of sport. I hope you will echo with this thought. We are just blessed to watch Federer. He reminds us that we are mortals and that he is just above us. There were many times when I felt Federer has to stop playing like the ‘real’ Federer–for he would become an immortal very soon than we all have expected. Am not good with mathematics and numbers, but 17 Grand Slam titles is just above thought. I am literally short of any decent vocabulary and short of breadth for the awe-inspiring moments he gave us watching him play. I would like to leave you, dear readers, by saying, “Watching Federer play is nothing short of an addiction, and writing about him, is nothing but an honor.”Long may his richness last!
The above said and done, dear readers, may I beg you to pardon my ignorance if you did not find your heroes in this small tribute of mine? I hope, you will. Pardon me, too, for I am stopping my article here, as the sun is just about to start its shine in my part of the globe, and I have to go to my pool for my regular practice.
See you soon, after my time in water (home).
Thanks and Regards, Your confidante in Sports,
Ravi Teja Mandapaka, India.
