This post has nothing to do with cycling and everything to do with respect. Read on if yinz wish, if you don’t… well, I really don’t care.
Aside from riding the trainer for an hour today (Sunday) my weekend was consumed entirely by soccer football. Brennan had an indoor tournament at CMU’s indoor athletic center on Saturday. Five games, each 40 minutes long… ALL day. I was fine with it, I wasn’t the one playing. Brennan and his team on the other hand were playing their asses off all day long. When I wasn’t watching B-Man, I was watching this weekend’s FA Cup action on the tube and most likely drinking a few beers.
B’s team didn’t do all that well, they went up against some bigger clubs with some BIG rosters, but that’s part becoming a better player. B did well. Sure, he made a few mistakes, the kids are 9 and 10 years old, playing FIVE games in ONE day, they are going to fuck up. But he hustled his little ass off and played 200 minutes of footy and it was pretty amazing to watch.
The thing I love most about B playing football is that this is HIS thing. He wanted the challenge of playing club football rather than parks and rec stuff and he is willing to push himself to do things that he didn’t think he could. Sure, I love that he does it, but we in NO way made him do it. It was his choice. I ‘m just happy that he is learning about the most beautiful game in the world (not including cycling of course!).
I have had uncomfortable conversations with coaches and parents telling me how much they think of B’s skills. I thank them for that, that’s awesome. But we all know that he is 10 years old. He just likes doing shit and I am EXTREMELY thankful for that. I’m his dad, if he chooses to be a professional Minecraft player, I would support that too. I don’t care what he does, I just love him.
The top pic is one of my favorite pics of him EVER. He is spent… tired, sore and ready to go home. BUT, there was still more to do, and he did it. He sucked it up, did what he needed to do and it was pretty freaking awesome to watch. I have a feeling in the coming season I will call upon that photo to push me on. If a 10-year-old kid can push himself to play 200+ minutes of football in one day, take a ball to the face (again), the gut, deal with numerous other injuries and continue on, I can push myself to race my mountain bike. No problem.
I wish my pics of B from this weekend would have been better, but that’s OK. I can deal with that, I’m learning too.
As B and I walked into CMU’s I.A.C., he asked about the track meet that was also going on nearby. I explained what it was and how his school doesn’t have track but does have cross-country running. I explained the difference as we walked along. His response? “Yeah, cross-country, that’s that I want to do.” Ha! Dude is 10 years old and I give him more respect than I give half of our fucking country. Thanks B-Man. You may never know the ways in which your push your old man on. I love you.