Outside of family and friends the one thing that has brought me the most pleasure throughout my life has been sports. Whether playing or watching, sports have always been something that appealed to me, spoke to me, captured me and my attention. I'm not talking about the off-field, off-court, off-ice things that tend to cast sports in a less-than-good light but the sheer spectacle, the sheer joy, of athletic endeavors themselves. And just as much as the games themselves, the practices and preparations, the workouts and the training, the sacrifice and the commitment, are all something that have brought joy to me. When I'm involved in an athletic endeavor, whether it's a run, a workout, playing in a game or watching one, it's always been the one time in my life where all other thoughts, worries, concerns, are shut out- my mind is totally consumed with the endeavor at hand; for that amount of time nothing else matters, nothing else intrudes. A wonderful escape, one I've never found elsewhere. To compete, and/or to see people compete, in whatever athletic endeavor, whether successfully or not, putting in the best effort possible, in preparation and in competition, has always been such a great feeling for me to have, and a joy to see in others.
It's wonderful to see the increased opportunities for women to compete as well- from tennis and road racing to rugby and lacrosse and every sport in-between, the opportunities offered and the attributes gained- fitness, commitment, confidence, leadership- as a result of those opportunities are just as important and valuable to women as to men. Sports is perhaps the closest our society comes to a true meritocracy; results are easily quantifiable, and success is earned, not given, regardless of background via, yes natural ability and talent but also through hard work. The best all-around athlete I've personally known was also the hardest-working athlete I've known, on the field and court as well as in practice and training, attributes that allowed him to succeed at a very high level and attributes which he has passed along to his sons and daughter who also compete and achieve at a very high level. He and they are successes- on the field, in the classroom, in business, in life- all of which I believe are a result of the many positive lessons gained from participation in athletics.
Go on out and play!
