As we now enter this Fall 2016 football season (and what an epic opening weekend for college football indeed), I'm reminded about why sports are everything. My entire life has revolved around sports. I was born into a family of athletes, competed as a Division One athlete, and then I started my career working in sports. To say I have a passion for all things Athletic is an understatement.
Sports truly mimic life You are put in the most intense of situations, your physical and mental strength is put to the test, and you have to learn to play nice. There are rules both written and unofficial, relationships formed and broken, you win and you lose. It's an industry that puts you at the edge of your comfort zone, then pushes you off that cliff and says "what else can you do?". Sure, there are the bad apples, the people who give sports a bad name, but I also think some of the smartest and most talented individuals exist in this world. Dumb jocks that they are, they're challenged to act at both a physical and mental peak. No, we are not building planes or performing surgery, but we are using our brain and our body at the same time. And yea, those of us not even paid to be the athletes are doing the same. I dare not compare myself to Lebron or Serena, but you bet your ass I've run 100 yards jumping over football players to get stats or field passes to someone. I've had to help fans out from under a collapsed tent in a storm and I've had to stop fights between 300 pound linemen. My job has not been all sideline passes and suite food. Give us all a little more credit. Because while I cannot balance the budgets you do at the bank or teach a student how to do well...anything...I can solve problems at the drop of a hat in really tense situations while dodging baseballs at 95mph. I can work 14 hours in a snowstorm and then get on a plane and do it all again in 4 days. All with my hair curled and my lip gloss on point (You're welcome.). And in the end, when I'm standing on the sideline at some of the top football programs in the nation, or I'm helping NBA athletes fundraise for their charities - I am in the zone and I am living the dream. You can have your 8 hour work day, your corner office, and your 6 figure salary - I'll keep checking off my bucket list and get paid doing it.