Making memories that last a lifetime
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
As every sports season starts, either under the heat of August, the coolness of November or the rain of April, there is always one thing, no matter the year or season, that all sports have in common … they all must come to an end.
Even though Highland County still has a couple teams and individuals involved in postseason play, these past couple weeks of tournament games, along with the past few months of the fall season, also have a thing or two in common with one another … memories were made.
After the McClain boys soccer team was knocked out of the postseason this past Wednesday, I had a telephone interview with coach Shawn Jackson, and he said something that struck a chord with me. His quote was:
"We played with all heart, and the team left it all out on the field. This loss takes nothing away from the season we had. It was a great season, and it will be something the guys will remember for the rest of their lives."
He's correct … his players will remember this season for the rest of their lives.
Though the Tigers' boys soccer team finished with their only loss this season being in the postseason, and their games may have been more fun in terms of the final outcome, I bet you this … even the teams who may have not been productive in the win-loss category had fun, too. I also bet you from the starters to the reserves on all the fall sports teams, they made memories and learned lessons that will last them a lifetime as well.
That is the great things about high school athletics … they can still be fun no matter the overall record or playing time compiled.
I know this firsthand, as what is now going on 10 years ago, I was part of a team that lost just once my senior year, and I'm 99.9-percent sure whoever mowed the grass that season saw the field more than I did.
You know something else … I wouldn't trade those times in my life for anything.
Coach Jackson was right on the money when he said: "… it will be something the guys will remember for the rest of their lives."
What made those times ("back in the day," as I like to say nowadays) so great for me wasn't how much playing time I had, or how many points the team scored … no, what made it fun were the memories made.
I'm not saying every memory made was kittens and rainbows, but more often than not, playing or riding the pine, I still look back at those times with more happiness than not.
Is this what happens when you get older?
Enough reminiscing, back to present day … wait, am I really having a 10-year high school reunion next year? Holy crap!
Sorry about that … where was I?
Oh yeah … a few weeks ago I wrote about how sports was a therapy of sorts for me, (well, that was true), but while covering sports is great, it does take me away from my friends and family for a majority of my time.
As one of my buddies told another one of our friends when asked how many hours I work a week, "He works between 50 to 100 hours in the fall, and during basketball season he works around 300 hours."
I know that's an exaggeration (although not enough of one), but I do love it, so no complaints here for the most part.
Since sports takes me away from those who I hang out with, this fall year was fun and memorable as I traveled to every football game with my dad.
Though I think he just went for the hot dogs and coffee, it was still a fun experience to share what I do for a living with my dad and to have someone ride with me as I drove to all the different venues.
He'd been to some games before, but as I mentioned before with sports "relaxing" me, all the different drives to the variety of football venues was fun to share with the person who taught me how to throw a football to begin with. (Though he wasn't a fan of some of the long walks to the stadium entrances. Really, though, some of the walks to the entrance gates felt like three-mile hikes.)
I guess with all my storytelling, what I'm trying to say is this … in the long run, it doesn't matter how many wins or losses there are, or how many goals or points are earned. No matter if players start the game or enter the game in the final minutes for the first time, the important part is making memories that you will cherish.
Make memories that you can learn from and that can be special on an individual basis.
Make memories that will come to mind if you are driving around in your car 10 years later and hear the song "All-Star" by Smash Mouth.
This is a time to be proud and to have fun, so why not enjoy it along the way?
Most importantly … don't take these times in your life for granted because when they are gone, they are gone … no matter how many games you win or lose.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
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Even though Highland County still has a couple teams and individuals involved in postseason play, these past couple weeks of tournament games, along with the past few months of the fall season, also have a thing or two in common with one another … memories were made.
After the McClain boys soccer team was knocked out of the postseason this past Wednesday, I had a telephone interview with coach Shawn Jackson, and he said something that struck a chord with me. His quote was:
"We played with all heart, and the team left it all out on the field. This loss takes nothing away from the season we had. It was a great season, and it will be something the guys will remember for the rest of their lives."
He's correct … his players will remember this season for the rest of their lives.
Though the Tigers' boys soccer team finished with their only loss this season being in the postseason, and their games may have been more fun in terms of the final outcome, I bet you this … even the teams who may have not been productive in the win-loss category had fun, too. I also bet you from the starters to the reserves on all the fall sports teams, they made memories and learned lessons that will last them a lifetime as well.
That is the great things about high school athletics … they can still be fun no matter the overall record or playing time compiled.
I know this firsthand, as what is now going on 10 years ago, I was part of a team that lost just once my senior year, and I'm 99.9-percent sure whoever mowed the grass that season saw the field more than I did.
You know something else … I wouldn't trade those times in my life for anything.
Coach Jackson was right on the money when he said: "… it will be something the guys will remember for the rest of their lives."
What made those times ("back in the day," as I like to say nowadays) so great for me wasn't how much playing time I had, or how many points the team scored … no, what made it fun were the memories made.
I'm not saying every memory made was kittens and rainbows, but more often than not, playing or riding the pine, I still look back at those times with more happiness than not.
Is this what happens when you get older?
Enough reminiscing, back to present day … wait, am I really having a 10-year high school reunion next year? Holy crap!
Sorry about that … where was I?
Oh yeah … a few weeks ago I wrote about how sports was a therapy of sorts for me, (well, that was true), but while covering sports is great, it does take me away from my friends and family for a majority of my time.
As one of my buddies told another one of our friends when asked how many hours I work a week, "He works between 50 to 100 hours in the fall, and during basketball season he works around 300 hours."
I know that's an exaggeration (although not enough of one), but I do love it, so no complaints here for the most part.
Since sports takes me away from those who I hang out with, this fall year was fun and memorable as I traveled to every football game with my dad.
Though I think he just went for the hot dogs and coffee, it was still a fun experience to share what I do for a living with my dad and to have someone ride with me as I drove to all the different venues.
He'd been to some games before, but as I mentioned before with sports "relaxing" me, all the different drives to the variety of football venues was fun to share with the person who taught me how to throw a football to begin with. (Though he wasn't a fan of some of the long walks to the stadium entrances. Really, though, some of the walks to the entrance gates felt like three-mile hikes.)
I guess with all my storytelling, what I'm trying to say is this … in the long run, it doesn't matter how many wins or losses there are, or how many goals or points are earned. No matter if players start the game or enter the game in the final minutes for the first time, the important part is making memories that you will cherish.
Make memories that you can learn from and that can be special on an individual basis.
Make memories that will come to mind if you are driving around in your car 10 years later and hear the song "All-Star" by Smash Mouth.
This is a time to be proud and to have fun, so why not enjoy it along the way?
Most importantly … don't take these times in your life for granted because when they are gone, they are gone … no matter how many games you win or lose.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press. He can be reached at sforsha@gmail.com. Follow Stephen on Twitter @hcpsportseditor.
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