Heslop Sports

Since it is February – the ‘month of love’ we will indulge in some LOVE and SPORTS articles. Today we are doing a repost of a brilliant article by Red Shannon, to be found here: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/45904-why-we-love-sports

WHY WE LOVE SPORTS

The short answer might seem obvious: sports is entertaining and provides a distraction from “real life”. Additionally, we know that competitive athletics somehow stirs us at gut level, either as participant or as spectator. I endeavored to dig a little deeper in hopes of finding some clues to our fascination with the world of sport. Come with me as I discover some vital links between who we are as humans and our love of the game.

Sport inspires us. In spite of the corruption, cheating and scandal so prevalent in today’s headlines, world-class athletes continue to demonstrate the fundamental nature of competition by giving us the strongest, the quickest, the smartest and most inspired performances on the planet. Their world is populated with people who strive for excellence. Being in the presence of such people – directly, as fellow athletes, or indirectly as observers makes us lift our sights a little higher…encourages us to loftier standards in our everyday lives.

Sport touches the depths of our emotion. Remember the old ABC theme “…the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat”? As a Portland Trailblazer fan, I carry a permanent scar on my heart from ‘The Meltdown’ loss to the Lakers in game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference Finals. That atrocity ranks close to ‘the loss of a close friend’ on my emotional scale. As deep and dark as that horrible event was, so too was the height and brilliance of the 1977 championship win over the Sixers. What is it about our soul that seems to yearn for the extreme? I suspect that apart from birth, love and death, sport uniquely spans the spectrum of our emotion.

Sport lets us believe in the impossible. “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” It doesn’t happen often enough but every now and then, just about the time we are ready to succumb to the predictable, to the inevitable…Whump! Young David rises up to smite the giant – whether that behemoth is the perennial powerhouse or the untouchable world record. It’s this aspect of sport that can, at any time, any place, stir the little kid in us to ask “why not?”

Sport engages our mind. No more “dumb jock’ jokes, please. Obviously sport is a physical discipline, but even the casual fan will tell you that mind and body work together. But when one gets to the top of his game, the mental aspect is huge – not only in the sense of getting “psyched up’ but in devising strategy, studying video, researching and developing training technique, etc. More than any other time in history, sport has now become a science. For the participant and spectator alike, there is plenty of mental stimulus in today’s sporting world – and we can swim as deep as we like in those waters.

Sport provides the element of danger. There is something in many of us, especially the young, that likes to tease disaster. We can stand at the edge of the cliff. We are aware of gravity, inertia and momentum, yet we disregard the unexpected gust of wind. Being a world-class athlete can be risky business. Think of it. One’s whole focus has been to go faster, higher, stronger. Sometimes, as in motor sports, downhill skiing, boxing (to name some obviously dangerous sports) in order to get an edge, one must go over the edge. Too many times we’ve watched in sadness and horror as the athlete crossed the line from order to chaos, control to helplessness. The spectator, who joins the competitor in this tease, peers over the precipice with him, disregarding the wind…and though sometimes the athlete pays the ultimate price, we who only watch are continually drawn back to the edge.

Sport can give us a place in history.  Most of us have been lucky enough to have witnessed in person an historic sporting event. Even if we were witness only via live TV, we may lay claim to being a part of that history. We were there, receiving and contributing to the collective energy at the precise moment history was made. It’s something that stays with us and even carries a certain weight to those who will only hear about it later.

Sport validates our competitive nature.  Some would argue that the competitive urges in us are merely primal, animalistic aggression which should be stifled. I’m convinced our competitive nature is God-given. The apostle Paul, in scripture* equates the spiritual journey to a vigorous race: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” And again** Paul reminds us: “But one thing I do. Forgetting what is behind and straining for what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize…” What should, and does separate us from the animals, in our competitive nature, are the kindred virtues of respect and honor. Any person, gifted with athletic (or any other) talent, who does not pursue his maximum potential misses the mark.

As I review the points above, I realize that sport impacts us at every level of our being: body, mind, soul and spirit. Is it any wonder we’re so fascinated by it? For me, the world of sport is right up there beneath God, family and country. Perhaps this piece was simply an attempt to justify my own obsession – as if I needed to list reasons for feelings that come naturally. But then I think of thousands standing in line for hours to get tickets for a game that lasts 48 minutes. Or bleachers collapsing under foot-stomping fans enraged over a bad call. Or a guy jumping over a 15 foot wall to touch the star player…

Then…I know I’m not alone.

*1 Corinthians 9:24

** Philippians 3:13

Love is playing every game as if its your last – Michael Jordan

Hello 2015!

I pray that “times of refreshing” may be upon us all this January, and for all the days of 2015 ahead, a season of excitement and vigour for the future. Let us shout “Hello and Welcome 2015” into the universe with a huge smile.

A tradition since last year in my little family has been choosing, a few simple words or phrases to define our year ahead. No more than five words or phrases of significance for the context that we find ourselves in during that New Year. Words that are not merely words on paper, but words loaded with our hopes, dreams and expectations for that particular season of our life.

The most amazing thing is to see the power of words and how words turn into reality over a period of time, how words direct our decisions and circumstances. So our short list of words have been chosen for the year 2015. One of our phrases is “BRAVE and COURAGEOUS”.

And so as we stand at the beginning of 2015 let us set our sails in the right direction with words, firmly backed by action and steeled resolve to face the days ahead.

A shout out to all the young athletes:

• We would love to hear about your plans / words / resolutions for 2015, in order to publish it (with your permission) to encourage and motivate other young athletes.
• Remember to review your goals of last year and ensure that they are higher than the year gone by.

A shout out to the parents of young athletes:

• We would love to hear what is up in your space and what you are doing to support and encourage your young athletes.

A shout out to the coaches of young athletes:

• We would love to get your thoughts and plans for the young athletes that are in your charge.

Never Ever Give Up!

For us 2014 was a year of development and observing the cycle of a seed.

Initial concepts do not just spring forth life suddenly, but need careful moulding, shaping and nurturing in order to grow.

But is that not the way with most things in life? A random idea, turns into a discussion, a discussion turns into research, research turns into more discussion and finally the moment of culmination ‘presents itself’. BY NO MEANS AN ACCIDENT, BUT BY ALL MEANS FULLY INTENTIONAL.

Thus:

• we are excited that the idea has finally become a reality.
• we have started small and ‘at home’ with our sons, but our vision is to grow in terms of  content and experiences of many other young athletes.

Thus as 2014 draws to a close we remind ourselves of the touchstone for Heslop Sports which is:

TO ENCOURAGE AND CELEBRATE YOUNG AND UPCOMING ATHLETES.

We look bravely, with hope and much excitement to 2015 as the number 5 symbolises divine grace. “Grace is what we get, which we do not deserve”.

Please continue to follow, and make contact with us in 2015 as we cover additional, exciting young athletes. May 2015 EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS!