After thinking about things long and hard last night, I still believe that everything that I said in my previous entry was true. I don't have any athletic talent left and I am not really good at anything anymore. But what I do have left is my pride. It's been badly bruised but I won't quit. I was thouroughly beaten but instead of crying about it, I'm going to try to do something about it. I won't quit the team but I still feel that I am a better cheerleader than a player. I might be the worst soccer player in the world but I'm not a quitter.

I think a part of the reason why I was so upset with myself has been from watching the Olympics. Seeing these athletes execute their sports so well and playing at such a high level made me think that I should be able to go out and do the same. But that is no excuse.

When I blogged about the USA basketball team and compared Carmello Anthony to Dwayne Wade, I spoke about how Carmello had no heart and Dwayne Wade was all heart. I'm not saying that I am like Dwayne Wade. He has tons of talent but Wade's gifts are not as pronounced as Anthony's. What Wade lacks in physical ability he makes up for with sheer will and determination. He just won't give up.

Rudy Tomjanovich, former head coach of the Houston Rockets, once said "Don't ever underestimate the heart of a champion." He said this after the Rockets repeated as NBA champions. They were the 6th seed that year and beat the 3 top teams in the west that year (Utah Jazz (60-22), Phoenix Suns (59-23), San Antonio Spurs (62-20)) and then went on to the Finals to sweep the Orlando Magic (57-25). They had a decent team lead by Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler but if you look a the rest of their team, you won't find any hall of fame player. Sam Cassell was only in his second year that season and Robert Horry was a young role player. Kenny Smith and Vernon Maxwell were shooters and nothing more. The rest of their team comprised of role players, bangers and bench warmers. How were they able to beat star studded teams? Heart. And that is what I have to have.



On Mondays, we usually play basketball. I don't care who is playing, I will be out there. I don't care if I have to play by myself. I will be out there. I apologize to whomever I am matched up against tonight because you won't have a good game. I will play harder than ever and play smart. I expect to come home battered and bruised and enjoy ever minute of the pain. I will prepare myself during the rest of the week for our next soccer game on Sunday. I believe we play against San Ramon Pleasanton the Eagles and no one is going to get by me during that game. We won't need to play with a goalie because I won't allow them to get a shot off. I obviously can't gaurantee that will be what happens but I am going to play with that mindset. If anyone comes down the field with the ball and sees me coming toward them, your best option will be to pass the ball away. You won't have a chance of getting by me.

Whether it be soccer or basketball or whatever, I need to be determined to do my very best every second that I am playing. I need to play smart. I can't expect my physical ability to make up for my mistakes. God may not have blessed me with much talent but He didn't make me a quitter. I won't give up. It's my time. Goonies never say die!