Football Is like Life- It Requires Perseverance, Self-Denial, Hard Work, Sacrifice, Dedication and Respect for Authority

“Football is like life- it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.” -Vince Lombardi This quote has a great deal of significance to me, because this is an accurate description of how I view the greatest sport known to mankind. Some view football as a dangerous sports that children shouldn’t be allowed to play. However, I have a different view, for me football was my way to vent and just let out all the anger and frustration I had from whatever was going on in my life at the time. Coming from a financial unstable family, in a neighborhood where everyone is just like me is infuriating. Just knowing I have all this potential academically and athletically and not being able to show it because of the barriers that my situation put on me. Football was what I used to express any emotions I had based on my circumstances, it was essentially my way to just let it all go.

Football captivated me so much not only because it helped me manage my condition, but because I played with people who were in my same position as me economically so we struggled in the same ways. It was a way that connected us in ways that built up our team chemistry substantially. The football field was one of the only places we could go to ignore whatever else was going on in the outside world and just have a good time. It was more than just a sport it was a brotherhood. A bond of young men who all had one goal of doing something with their life, and making it out of their current situation. What really made us happy, was winning. This was because winning football games were some of the only times that we were appreciated and some of the only times we felt successful. I felt like even though my teammates and I had similar circumstances, I viewed the game of football differently. Solely because, I was the captain, this helped me take a leadership role and made me be somewhat of a big brother to my other teammates. I took pride in this