I don't claim to be a great athlete, but I have always been able to hold my own. However, I have had a couple of incidence that caused me do doubt my ability. The first happened in elementary school when we were on a field day at the local middle school. I was lining up for the 100 yard dash and knew I was the fastest guy on that line. When the horn blew you would have thought Carl Lewis had graced the middle school track with his presence. I was in full stride and well in front of the pack. At about the 50 yard mark I felt my body get a little ahead of my feet. I started to panic because I knew what was about to happen. I also knew that the whole school, including the middle school, was in stands watching us run. There I go, head over feet, rolling down the track. I got up in time to finish third, but boy was I embarrassed. I was reminded of this story a couple of months ago when I decided to play on the UPS basketball team. It was opening night and I wanted so bad to impress my co-workers with my mad basketball skills. Of course, being five foot eight inches and nearly 300 pounds, they were not expecting much from the round mound of rebound. I knew that I still could shoot the basketball and only needed a chance to let one fly. I finally get in the game and was trying not to rush something and make a fool out of myself. At that point the ball was stolen and I was running back down the court to try to play some defense. Here it goes again, my body got moving faster than my feet and I went down like a sack of potatoes. Unlike my childhood experience, it was not graceful at all and I slid down the hardwood court. I got up just in time to watch the guy lay the ball in the basket for an easy two points. I was so embarrassed and didn't know how I would show my face in that building again. In fact I never returned to that building and they went on to win the championship without me...another shot to my ego. That triggered a fire in me that has me on a path of a better life style. I have since lost 45 points and have run on a gym floor numerous times getting ready for my return in 2010. Next season I am going to be a man to reckon with, that's for dern sure!
