What I Learned From … The World of Sports
December 9, 2007 by Lillie
As I said in the only other post I’ve ever written about sports, I am not a sports fan. I never intended to write about sports again, but Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings is very persuasive when it comes to getting entries in his What I Learned From … group writing projects. So here’s another post on sports, an entry in What I Learned From … the World of Sports.
I certainly can’t write about my own experience playing sports. The only lesson I learned from PE classes in swimming, tennis, and bowling is that I’m no good at anything athletic.
So I’ll turn back to the San Antonio Spurs, our beloved hometown basketball team. I don’t remember exactly what year the franchise started in San Antonio, but I do recall that it held a contest to name the team. The teenage son of our next-door neighbor won with the name Spurs.
When the team won its fourth NBA championship in nine years last summer, I paid enough attention to learn some valuable lessons.
- Talent is important, but so is experience. The Spurs team has lots of talent, but having been in the championships before gave them an edge. Even imaginary experience can be helpful. Many successful people in sports, business, and just about any area of life have practiced and studied and visualized success for many years before achieving their goal.
- Teamwork is critical to success. None of us achieve success without lots of help. Every “self-made man” has someone who has helped him: a teacher who motivated him, family and friends who supported him, mentors who guided him. Although the Spurs have “The Big Three” star players, they would not have won with championship without the rest of the team doing their jobs effectively.
- Perseverance overcomes obstacles. We all face obstacles in life, and last year started off badly for the Spurs. However, they kept working and improving with every game until they won the championship. Many people want to give up when things aren’t going well, but often they would reach their goal if they didn’t quit.
- Nice guys don’t always finish last. The Spurs players are known for supporting the community and for avoiding the bad behavior that unfortunately is all too common among sports and entertainment stars. Nice matters, and we can be both successful and nice.
One more lesson: if I, a non-sports-fan, can learn these lessons from the world of sports, we can all learn from the world around us. We just have to pay attention.
[tags]What I Learned From, group writing project, sports, San Antonio Spurs[/tags]
Ah Lillie, you are a woman after my own heart – 1) the challenge of writing about sports 2) the importance of paying attention!
Joanna
Thanks for joining us this month anyway, Lillie! I knew you had it in you!
However, I think the best lesson learned is your closing thought:
…if I, a non-sports-fan, can learn these lessons from the world of sports, we can all learn from the world around us.
I think my work here is done!
Lillie, I didn’t know you were a Spurs fan, I might have to unsubscribe to your feed
Kidding, but I am a Suns fan and I really, REALLY don’t like your team
Nice blog though
You cannot seriously tell me that you are a “non sport fan!” OK, next entry: define the concept. LMAO!
I like the ideas of teamwork and perseverance. But there is one thing I know for sure: talent matters more than experience. Especially in sports. It’s hard to explain now why. But consider talent a gift from God – a blessing given to an individual. And then you will understand what I mean.
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I doubt that you don’t like anything about sports. What about ice skating? That’s so magical, so beautiful. I can watch it in wonder for hours and hours. And women’s gymnastics too.
And even if you don’t like anything about these things, there’s nothing weird about it. We don’t need all to like the same things do we?
I agree with you on the cultivating and nurturing the gift from God. However, I’ve never encountered a person with no talent who achieved something of importance…
Talent is relative though… you might be right.
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I agree there’s a lot to learn from sports – each match is like a microcosm of someone’s life. Some start out well but lose their way, others struggle but get there in the end. I find it fascinating, which is why I love watching tennis, rugby, tiddlywinks…(OK, maybe not tiddlywinks).
.-= Rod@tennis ball machines´s last blog ..Lobster tennis ball machines =-.
Rod,
As I said in the post, I am NOT a fan of any kind of sports. But hometown pride gets me to pay attention to the Spurs when they win the championship.
Hi,
I also not a sports fan, most of all the basketball I forgot everything about it. But watching NBA is much more excused I can’t dare not to watch.
Have a Good Day,
Brax
.-= brax´s last blog ..baseball card storage containers =-.
brax,
I’m not quite sure if you’re saying you like basketball or you don’t like it.
But thanks for commenting!
I was never a Spurs fan per se, but I always had great respect for their team. When David Robinson began playing with them he really brought a level of respect and professionalism to the franchise that I think sticks with the team to this day. It really is refreshing to see a franchise avoid some of the ugly incidents that seem to have plagued basketball and football in particular. Kudos on a great post.
Larry,
David Robinson did exemplify ethical, professional behavior as a player and continues to do so as a leader in his church and the community. I’m glad the team has continued to follow his example.
I’ve also learned a lot from sports, since I love playing basketball myself…haha..
.-= James´s last blog ..Eurovision Song Contest – Oslo 2010 Contestants =-.
James,
If you read my post, you know I didn’t learn anything from playing sports. That’s something I don’t do.
yeah! we learn a lot from sports..not just sports… mostly anything… we just need to appreciate it…so we can finally learn something from it…
nice idea…thanks!
.-= Mark´s last blog ..Eurovision Song Contest – Oslo 2010 Contestants =-.
Mark,
Thank you for the comment. Sorry I overlooked it when you left it.
I am so glad to hear that the Spurs are good upstanding citizens that are responsible. It really is to bad that they aren’t all that way.
Jamie,
Yes, it’s a shame so many sports figures and other celebrities don’t take their position as role models seriously. I know many say they aren’t role models–just athletes or actors or whatever–but young people look up to them and emulate them. We’re blessed here in San Antonio that the Spurs are wonderful role models for our kids.
Joanna,
It’s nice to know we have those two things in common!
Robert,
Thanks for always making us think and look for lessons everywhere.
Mike,
I am so oblivious to sports I don’t even know who the Suns are.
The only time I pay attention to Spurs basketball is when they’re in the championships … and I don’t even remember who they played against. I’m more aware of what the players do in the community than what they do on the basketball court.
You can stay subscribed – it’s not likely you’ll be reading any more about the Spurs – or any sports – here any time soon.
Mig,
Does not liking or knowing anything about sports make me weird?
I understand that talent is a gift from God and that it is very important. But I do believe that we have to nurture and develop our gifts. The most talented person won’t succeed to the level he is capable of unless he practices, studies, and works hard. I’ve known very talented people – not necessarily sports – who haven’t accomplished much because they took their talent for granted and didn’t develop it. I have also known some people who didn’t have as much innate talent but who nurtured whatever talent they had and accomplished far more than anyone expected. And as little as I know about sports, I’ve heard similar things about athletes. Some with great talent achieve less than others with less talent but more desire, drive, work, experience.
Mig,
Figure skating is beautiful … but I’d rather read than watch it.
I agree that someone has to have some talent to succeed in an endeavor – I could never achieve anything as an athlete even I loved sports because I’m a natural-born klutz.
However, I think a person with less talent but more passion can be more successful than a person with more talent who doesn’t apply himself.