Authors Note: This theme piece is on courage, bravery, survival, coping with loss, determination, perseverance, overcoming adversity, choices, decisions, and the struggle for power.
If it is worth the time, then it is worth more effort than the other team, player, and coach. Your
wish to become an outstanding athlete will not come true without dedication and effort. The more effort you show, the more you will get out of it, then you become more confident, and most importantly determined. Quitting is failing and continuing is rewarding. In the poem “Anything is Possible”, by Melissa Underwood, she shows readers that anything can be achieved if you put your mind to it.
Quitting is never the option by a top performer especially Dan Gable who Said that, “The first period is won by the technician. The second period is won the by the person in better shape. The third period is won by the kid with the biggest heart.” The person with the biggest heart is the one who doesn’t give up in the third period or overtime because this is his match and this is his fight.
Being good means a lot, being the best means even more. Dan Gable had said,” No matter what opponent you have he shoots I score, I shoot I score.” The best put more time, effort, and determination in than everyone else. One important part is being able to rest, without rest your body will be sore and it will be very tough to compete compared to someone who got rest and feels great.
Many athletes get themselves worked up and nervous when they don’t need to. Most people occur to lose when they lose focus because they don’t think that they can do something. Dan gable said, “ Right out of high school that I never had the fear of losing, which is how most athletes lose.” Don’t focus on records or championships, focus on what you can do to have a better record or more championships.
Challenges will always occur in life which why you can’t dodge them. Overcoming challenges is the easy part dealing with them is the hard part. Cael Sanderson said, “There will be many challenges ahead, and I’m looking for them.” It will be a rough road ahead but these challenges and goals are reachable.
Practices are usually boring if you are a know it all so you decide to slack off because you are ahead of everyone else. Well the other guy getting ready is getting in shape and preparing to destroy you. Vince Lombardi gave a speech one time during practice when his team didn’t enjoy the time of the practice, ”Practice doesn’t perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.” No matter what sport it is and what set of skills you have compete with an attitude of being the best, practice the best, work the best, act the best, and be the best.
Survival can be tough especially with a target on your back and when everyone is looking at you like you’re the number one guy. Now with that happening you have two options enjoy by wasting time and not training because you don’t want to. Now the other option would be to be the best beat the guy in front of you.
Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, and Vince Lombardi resemble what is need to be great and respectable. Anything is possible symbolizes survival, practice, challenges, determination, excitement, effort, and being the best. Through all the activites that any person competes in, this is what puts them ahead of the rest. What would you compete in to be the best?
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Battle of The Bay
Authors Note: This is a point of view piece about the quarterback change in San Francisco. We will see Alex Smith's point of view as well as Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree, and Coach Jim Harbaugh.
Heading into week thirteen for the 49ers, the 49ers coaching staff had a decision to make stay wit the number one overall pick, Alex Smith or go with second stringer, Colin Kaepernick. In Colin Kaepernick’s point of view this is his chance to shoe head coach, Jim Harbaugh what he can do. In Alex Smith's Point of view he has to get it together after he comes back after an injury. San Francisco 49er’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh named young gun Colin Kaepernick starter. From Harbaugh’s point of view he believes that Kaepernick can lead and make bigger plays than Smith can. Alex Smith is probably thinking that he got screwed out of a job because he was injured and now is a backup. For Colin Kaepernick he is happy now he gets to show the NFL what he can do and how he can make a team better.
From what I had observed, I saw Alex Smith ready to come back and take the 49ers back to the NFC title game. For head coach Jim Harbaugh, he had been seeing himself lose again in the NFC title game. Now in this situation most of the time the coach will choose to pick the experienced guy over the inexperienced kid.
In the monday night start for Kaepernick, he had started off shaky. Once things settled down he had no fear, of the cherry red, hot Bears defense. 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree had talked to the San Francisco Chronicle about who the starting quarterback was going to be for the monday night game. According to ESPN, Crabtree commented and said,”Who’s the starting quarterback.” If I were John Harbaugh, I would have quarterback Alex Smith and wide receiver Michael Crabtree in a room until they can have good chemistry with each other and work together at a high level. Alex Smith said that his coach made the wrong move and he will regret it. Colin Kaepernick said that Coach Harbaugh said it is best for the team.
I think that Harbaugh should have split the two into different formations, so that they would get the best of both worlds. Now everybody had their own opinion on the change and who should start. When the news was released, Harbaugh said it was the best for the team and that their was going to be a change. Would the news had been different if Alex Smith had been the first one to have a press conference? If Colin Kaepernick had sent out a tweet about him getting the job and thanks for the support, would the fans have supported Kaepernick?
Heading into week thirteen for the 49ers, the 49ers coaching staff had a decision to make stay wit the number one overall pick, Alex Smith or go with second stringer, Colin Kaepernick. In Colin Kaepernick’s point of view this is his chance to shoe head coach, Jim Harbaugh what he can do. In Alex Smith's Point of view he has to get it together after he comes back after an injury. San Francisco 49er’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh named young gun Colin Kaepernick starter. From Harbaugh’s point of view he believes that Kaepernick can lead and make bigger plays than Smith can. Alex Smith is probably thinking that he got screwed out of a job because he was injured and now is a backup. For Colin Kaepernick he is happy now he gets to show the NFL what he can do and how he can make a team better.
From what I had observed, I saw Alex Smith ready to come back and take the 49ers back to the NFC title game. For head coach Jim Harbaugh, he had been seeing himself lose again in the NFC title game. Now in this situation most of the time the coach will choose to pick the experienced guy over the inexperienced kid.
In the monday night start for Kaepernick, he had started off shaky. Once things settled down he had no fear, of the cherry red, hot Bears defense. 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree had talked to the San Francisco Chronicle about who the starting quarterback was going to be for the monday night game. According to ESPN, Crabtree commented and said,”Who’s the starting quarterback.” If I were John Harbaugh, I would have quarterback Alex Smith and wide receiver Michael Crabtree in a room until they can have good chemistry with each other and work together at a high level. Alex Smith said that his coach made the wrong move and he will regret it. Colin Kaepernick said that Coach Harbaugh said it is best for the team.
I think that Harbaugh should have split the two into different formations, so that they would get the best of both worlds. Now everybody had their own opinion on the change and who should start. When the news was released, Harbaugh said it was the best for the team and that their was going to be a change. Would the news had been different if Alex Smith had been the first one to have a press conference? If Colin Kaepernick had sent out a tweet about him getting the job and thanks for the support, would the fans have supported Kaepernick?
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Over Coming Adversity
Authors
Note: This is a character development piece about Jordan Burroughs over
coming adversity.
In 2009 Jordan was going in to a dual meet with a 7-0 record. He was facing Central Michigan's Steve Brown. He was beating Brown until he tore his pcl and lcl in his left shoulder. Now the NCAA has a rule called medical redshirt. When Jordan returned as a redshirt senior to wrestle an extra season he bumped up to the next weight class. When Big Ten 165 pounders found out about Jordan Burroughs redshirting and bumping up to a 165 pounds they started to work because they knew he would be a tough opponent. With Burroughs overcoming adversity of the injury he finished the 2011 season undefeated. He had bonus points in 17 straight matches until it was broken by Wisconsin’s Andrew Howe.
Three weeks after college Jordan started training for freestyle wrestling in the 2012 olympic games in London. Before he could get there he had to take at least 2nd place to make it into the tournament. Jordan won the men’s 74kg weight class and was headed to London. With the United States not having a gold medalist at all in the tournament. He was able to change that when he wrestled Sadegh Saeed Goudarzi of Iran. It was sad that the United States only had Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner to take home a gold medal, but Jordan overcame adversity once again.
Jordan Burroughs is the best freestyle wrestler in the world. Burroughs took gold in 2012 as a 74kg freestyle wrestler representing the United States. Since he took gold he won 250,000 dollars. They should be payed more for dealing with the pain involved in wrestling. Now that you know my opinion on freestyle wrestling, who do you think is the best?
Analyzing Donald
Authors Note: This is a character analysis about how Donald in the book Takedown changes as a person and as a wrestler.
Donald, after he had watched a high school dual meet decides he will join the middle school wrestling team. When he decided he figured it would be like any other sport right? Wrong wrestling is a tough sport that involves no running and nothing with a ball just you and the other guy trying to beat each other. He discovers that when he wrestles Tavo, the eight grader who is on varsity. He starts to get down on himself until he works with his coach and steals the varsity spot from Tavo.
Then from Tavo's point of view he realizes he has a new practice partner he thinks that it will be all easy and he will be able to keep a varsity spot. When his practice partner Donald starts thinking about quiting he influences him to work with coach and him before, after, and during practice. Then he has a wrestle off and then Donald takes the spot from him.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
People Can Change
Authors Note: This is a prediction piece about how people can change due to the short story, Thank You Maam.
She led him down the hall to the front door and opened it. "Goodnight!" Behave yourself, son!" she said, looking out into the street.
The boy wanted to say something else other that "Thank you, ma’am" to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door. He barely managed to say "Thank you" before she shut the door.
Roger ran up the stairs and gave three rough knocks on the door. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones had slightly opened the door. Roger Said, “Maam thank you for what you did.” She replied, “Roger, no problem, Roger next time if you try I will call the cops.” Mrs. Jones said, “Maam there will not be a next time, my stealing days are over.” He replied, “Alright good night now and you be safe out there.” Roger started to walk down the street back to his home which was a box at the city park up against a brick wall. He was all alone thinking about if she done that to everybody who tried to rob her.
All of a sudden a masked gunman, aggressively grabbed Roger and threw him in to his white van full of rust.The man got him the van and drove the block in to a dark ally. Roger was looking for his ten dollar bill, to pay off the kidnapper. The man took off his mask, it was his stealing partner Desean. They drove up to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’s house just around the corner. Desean said that he had been scouting this house for a week. He had handed Roger a berretta handgun. They both got out of the van and Roger dropped the gun and said that he would rather die than kill an innocent woman who had changed his life in way that he could not pay back for her being so generous. Then stomping down the street in anger he left to let Desean make the decision to go to jail, die, or turn his life around.
She led him down the hall to the front door and opened it. "Goodnight!" Behave yourself, son!" she said, looking out into the street.
The boy wanted to say something else other that "Thank you, ma’am" to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones, but he couldn’t do so as he turned at the barren stoop and looked back at the large woman in the door. He barely managed to say "Thank you" before she shut the door.
Roger ran up the stairs and gave three rough knocks on the door. Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones had slightly opened the door. Roger Said, “Maam thank you for what you did.” She replied, “Roger, no problem, Roger next time if you try I will call the cops.” Mrs. Jones said, “Maam there will not be a next time, my stealing days are over.” He replied, “Alright good night now and you be safe out there.” Roger started to walk down the street back to his home which was a box at the city park up against a brick wall. He was all alone thinking about if she done that to everybody who tried to rob her.
All of a sudden a masked gunman, aggressively grabbed Roger and threw him in to his white van full of rust.The man got him the van and drove the block in to a dark ally. Roger was looking for his ten dollar bill, to pay off the kidnapper. The man took off his mask, it was his stealing partner Desean. They drove up to Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones’s house just around the corner. Desean said that he had been scouting this house for a week. He had handed Roger a berretta handgun. They both got out of the van and Roger dropped the gun and said that he would rather die than kill an innocent woman who had changed his life in way that he could not pay back for her being so generous. Then stomping down the street in anger he left to let Desean make the decision to go to jail, die, or turn his life around.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Retelling Six Innings
Authors Note: This a retelling about a book that I had read in seventh grade that i could relate to.
The book Six Innings by author James Preller, becomes to be very sad when best friends Mike and Sam find out that Sam was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer would keep Sam from playing little league baseball. Sam still got involved by becoming the announcer which cheered up Mike at least a little bit. Mike finds himself out there all alone and he begins to start playing bad. Mike and his team have made it in the championship game and mike has played four innings of very good baseball. Then when Mike starts to play poorly he begins to take it out on some of his teammates, that’s when he realized why he played the game of baseball.
The book Six Innings by author James Preller, becomes to be very sad when best friends Mike and Sam find out that Sam was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer would keep Sam from playing little league baseball. Sam still got involved by becoming the announcer which cheered up Mike at least a little bit. Mike finds himself out there all alone and he begins to start playing bad. Mike and his team have made it in the championship game and mike has played four innings of very good baseball. Then when Mike starts to play poorly he begins to take it out on some of his teammates, that’s when he realized why he played the game of baseball.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Halloween Adventure
Authors Note: This is a personal narrative about what my friend, Austin and I did on Halloween and all the fun we had.
On Halloween night, my friend, Austin and I went to my uncle's house in Waukesha. When we arrived I leaped out of my moms gold, oval, and shiny van. So we took off slowly down my uncle's street, ten we blasted off down the next street. This was a very good street because people would leave buckets with the sign, please take one. I should have taken one but I dumped half of the bucket and passed the rest to Austin. We were cleaning up a lot of streets. The bad news was when we had too much candy, and were hungry, tired, and thirsty. I'd forgotten my phone and Austin didn't have one. So we traveled back to ancient times and asked for directions. This kind lady had told us how far we were from my uncle's house. Just as I thought it couldn't get worse we were running away from this who wanted his candy back. We had just gotten a block away from my uncle's house , I could feel my legs pumping blood so bad that they almost exploded.
We got back and went inside. My uncle told us that we just missed my mom, she had just went looking for us . He tossed me his phone and told me to call her. She had been on the other side of the city so it would be a while before she got back. When we arrived she told us that we were going to Bubba's. Austin began to jump with a great big cheer. As we were on our way to Bubba's, Austin and I started to scavege through our bags, I had found a plastic gun that broke in a minute.The bad news at the time was that I was allergic to peanuts and strawberries. So I was a good friend and gave Austin the candy I couldn't have. So we arrived. I had ordered the Bubbaburger which was bacon, cheddar cheese sauce, and fried onions on it. When it was brought to the table I attached it with some power from my teeth. Halfway through the fight I had waved the white flag and given up. Luckily everyone else had finished. so lastly, we took Austin home, this was a fun, exciting, and hungry experience. I hope we do this next Halloween.
On Halloween night, my friend, Austin and I went to my uncle's house in Waukesha. When we arrived I leaped out of my moms gold, oval, and shiny van. So we took off slowly down my uncle's street, ten we blasted off down the next street. This was a very good street because people would leave buckets with the sign, please take one. I should have taken one but I dumped half of the bucket and passed the rest to Austin. We were cleaning up a lot of streets. The bad news was when we had too much candy, and were hungry, tired, and thirsty. I'd forgotten my phone and Austin didn't have one. So we traveled back to ancient times and asked for directions. This kind lady had told us how far we were from my uncle's house. Just as I thought it couldn't get worse we were running away from this who wanted his candy back. We had just gotten a block away from my uncle's house , I could feel my legs pumping blood so bad that they almost exploded.
We got back and went inside. My uncle told us that we just missed my mom, she had just went looking for us . He tossed me his phone and told me to call her. She had been on the other side of the city so it would be a while before she got back. When we arrived she told us that we were going to Bubba's. Austin began to jump with a great big cheer. As we were on our way to Bubba's, Austin and I started to scavege through our bags, I had found a plastic gun that broke in a minute.The bad news at the time was that I was allergic to peanuts and strawberries. So I was a good friend and gave Austin the candy I couldn't have. So we arrived. I had ordered the Bubbaburger which was bacon, cheddar cheese sauce, and fried onions on it. When it was brought to the table I attached it with some power from my teeth. Halfway through the fight I had waved the white flag and given up. Luckily everyone else had finished. so lastly, we took Austin home, this was a fun, exciting, and hungry experience. I hope we do this next Halloween.
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