What is a High School Athlete?

[fieldgoal1]

What is a High School Athlete?

 

Somewhere between adolescence and adulthood there occurs in human development an age, which is physically and psychologically impossible. It is the unfathomable stage known as “High School Athlete”. It is a creature undefined by psychologists, misunderstood by teachers, worshipped by small children, either admired or doubted by parents, tormented by their girlfriend or boyfriend or lack of, and unheard of outside their school.

 

A High School Athlete is a rare combination of doctor, lawyer, parent, missionary, marine, actor, and diplomat. They are a competent psychologist, adjunct professor, a comedian in a drill sergeant’s uniform, a minister to all faiths with questions about their own. A referee, a coach, a salesman, and an advisor. They know less about the chemistry in their own body than they do Chemistry class. A humorist in a crisis, a track star in an emergency, a song leader, an entertainer, and a play director. An idol with their head saturated in sweat, and their feet in smelly shoes. A comforter on a cramped, hot bus after a long game with a pal who has just missed the last play in the biggest game that year. A listener, a comforter, a quiet voice in the darkness of their bus seat, still uncomfortable in their own stench.

 

Many High School Athletes dislike the early practices, the late practices, and the after school practices, oh, and rainy days. Most are fond of sunbathing, though not when it means a farmer’s tan or the gym where there is none. Those outside want to be inside and those inside want to be outside. Many more are fond of games, scoring, winning, and actually playing. Athletes are good at patching up broken friendships, bloody cuts, and the relationship with the teacher because of the “occasional” lack of finished homework. They are good at locating their best friend in the crowd, playing championship games with any wad of paper, and destroying the little kids in the neighborhood with their skills. They resist getting out of bed in the mornings, and going to bed at night. A High School Athlete is a dynamo when they are turned on, exhausted when the adrenaline dies off, but on again with the next competition.

 

Who but a High School Athlete can cure a loss with a smile, defy the smell of the locker room, read the lips of a coach 30 yards away, sing every song on the ESPN Jock Jams CD, and still not really understand what “Back in Black” means. For all this, they are rewarded with bad calls from the refs, bumps and bruises and sore joints, doubt and criticism from the fans, and a cold pizza or burger from what was left at the concession stand. You wonder how they can stand the pace and pressure. You wonder if they really know how much they are worth, and somehow, you realize you can never pay them enough when, as the season is ending, they begin to cry and wave good-bye, and all of that immediately changes when the coach announces in the locker room … “Workouts start in two weeks.”

 

Only a High School Athlete.

 

 

Loosely Adapted by From Article in Camping Magazine, March 1965 by Phyllis M. Ford

[crb58]

pretty freakin true

[speed_burner_1469]

yea i loved this prolly the most true thing someone cud ever say

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[73choctawqb]

ABSOLUTELY ! But the funniest thing is the fact that it hasn't changed in I KNOW 35 years !

[Guest lester]

i like it alot. that gave me cold chills.

[viking_fan]

Fieldgoal1, you are a poet. That was great, I need to make sure my son reads it.

[DHSFB64]

Fieldgoal1, you are a poet. That was great, I need to make sure my son reads it.

 

 

THIS TRIBUTE TO HIGH SCHOOL ATHELTES SUMS IT ALL UP. TRUTH BE SAID ITS NEVER CHANGED. I STILL CAN REMEMBER IT ALL 40+ YEARS LATER.

[fieldgoal1]

Fieldgoal1, you are a poet. That was great, I need to make sure my son reads it.

 

 

Thank you. Particular group of Students that I wrote that about. Great kids. I am glad that it has blessed you.

[Punisher-whs pride]

Nicely done FG1, you already know how i feel about this one! You only have 4 years to be a high school athlete, and you better enjoy them, cause it is not fun being on the outside looking in! /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

[TheLivingLegend]

A high school athlete is ANY young whipper snapper that LOVES the game that he or she is playing. IMO that is the definition of a high school athlete.

[cosbybasketball30]

im playing college football now, and its nothing like high school. high school sports was the greatest, nothing can match it. that poem puts it in a nut shell. well done

[Punisher-whs pride]

im playing college football now, and its nothing like high school. high school sports was the greatest, nothing can match it. that poem puts it in a nut shell. well done

 

 

It really is the greatest thing, but it makes you miss it even more when you don't have college ball to fall back on! Just school and work, and watching my FAM lead the way now! The best 4 years of my life, i'll never forget them! /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />