Turning 26 Brings Back Fond Memories of Both Sports and Life

As some of you have grown accustomed to me sitting here and writing about high school sports or blogging about how the Tigers are going to win the World Series, I've learned a lot in the past year. I've also learned a lot in the past 26 years.  

If you are older than me, you know what I am talking about–how life has shown us the many different paths we can take. If you are younger than me, especially in the high school level or just starting college, there are always going to be tough decisions that you make. Just know that with every decision you make, the people who you love and love you will always be there for you.

I feel as a hockey city, we expect too much from our hockey team. Do we want them to win the Stanley Cup? Of course we do. But it's not life or death, like some of us make it out to be. I've known athletes who have been in college and now I've been fortunate enough to know a pro athlete in Major League Baseball.

For the past 3 months, Trenton native Anthony Bass has been pitching for the San Diego Padres. Every time he makes a start, there is a story to be written. I was fortunate to be friends with Bass before he made his leap to "The Show". I wish that every high school athlete could meet him, because it would give people an insight to how you should chase your dreams if you want them, but acting in a way that gives insight to how you should act. Bass is humble and you wish you could see more out of athletes than what you see.

Let's be honest here. Sports have never been more corrupt in the past than they are now. Pro athletes are getting max contracts and living a lavish lifestyle, but what they do off their fields or courts is another story. I don't have to get into great detail here, but a perfect example of corruption is Michael Vick. I just hope that Vick means everything he says and is not like the way that he was anymore, because he has the chance to be a true role model to kids offer a simple message–People make mistakes, but those can be rectified.

To add another point, do not expect an NBA season this year. You wanna see corruption? Look at the NBA as a whole.

College sports are in even worse shape. Numerous universities are under investigation for a wide variety of events, such as illegal recruitment to players taking money. The whole system is flawed and there is no way to stop it. Football is the worst to blame, but basketball is not that far behind.

Which leads me to something I've realized about sports, something I have known about since my junior year of high school. I was never the stand-out athlete. For the record, I only made the JV basketball team my sophomore year because our coach saw how much I loved the game and kept me on the team as an assistant coach. For the last four games of the season, he gave me a jersey and a gym bag, and for four games, I thought I was a member of the team. Little did I know I was a member of the team the entire season. I will never forget Doug Marks for what he did for me that season. He is one of the many people as to why I want to get into coaching.  

Which leads me to my overall point: If you want to see competition, if you want to see people give their all with getting nothing in return, then high school sports is where it is at. Student athletes go out and give their all everyday, whether it be football, volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, hockey, etc. There is no money being given to students, no benefits for better grades, no relaxed schedules. Student athletes are in it for the glory of being a winner. The example is very, very simple–the 2011 Wyandotte Roosevelt Bears hockey team.  Actually, that sentence needs to be rephrased–

I've shared great memories with friends over the years. We've laughed and we've cried.  There's been happiness and there has been death. As I sit here, turning 26, at this very minute, one thing remains the same. I would not change anything I've done because that's the person who I have grown to become. Maybe that's the biggest life lesson of all.