Athletes are born with an unlimited amount of ambition. Some may call it greed others call it sure determination. As athletes get older the only thing that runs through our mind is getting that illustrious ring! Whether it be a high school state championship, a college World Series ring or a Super Bowl. Other sports may have medals or trophies but the point remains the same, we all have one goal and one goal only. While in that particular sporting season or even in the off-season I strongly feel that every athlete feels at home when they are on his or her field, court, or diamond! Whether this is there only home or a secondary home, the number of hours spent on the field, court or diamond far out way the number of hours spent at home.
As a five year old my father introduced me to just an ordinary “fun” game that only took place on the weekends. I spent more time practicing this “game” and twice a week became three, and then four times a week. By the time I was nine years old, this became something more than just a field where I flew by the competition; it became a place where I escaped all the irrelevant stuff that filled my head back at home. The more time I spent away from “ home “ the easier it was for me to realize that everything home was supposed to be was happening to me on the baseball field. All the joy and comfort was coming from a dirt field. The sound of the aluminum making contact with the baseball and watching it sore through air made put my mind at ease and everything else in my life became secondary. When I entered my high school years I put more time into baseball and spent more time on the field than at home studying and spending time with my family. This caused animosity between siblings and parents regarding priorities, so what did I do to blow off steam? Went to the diamond and practiced.
After reading the first two paragraphs you may be under the impression that my first home has had a negative impact, which is totally wrong. The love and support that I receive on a daily basis from my family is through the roof. When I was at home a majority of my time was spent watching sitcoms. Most of the time I spent time watching “The Cosby Show”, seeing the siblings and how they interacted with each other. Reminded me of how alike my family is with the Cosby’s, each fight that I watched over the television was something that my family has went through as well, if it was about chores, or school work, even about how much sweets Theo and Rudy could have before dinner was served. All these arguments that took place on television for thousands of viewers to watch were of such great resemblance to those that took place at our own home! This provided a sense of closure to me that my family wasn’t so different from all the rest.
All the countless hours I spent on the diamond I strongly believe that it has made me a better man and helped me fix several personal problems. Baseball is a game of failure, if you can succeed three out of ten times in baseball you are considered a hall of famer. With all this time spent failing at something I love; it really taught me how to deal with adversity along with patience and how to overcome failure. Which are all qualities that shape me into becoming a better man and future husband to my family and kids in the very near future. Just like my parents have taught me a great deal at home so has the diamond. Now that I am a collegiate athlete each day I wake up and go workout then practice spending countless hours working on my craft and each new day that comes it never ceases to amaze me that I find a new reason to fall in love with the game all over again, reminding me every day that when I am on the diamond and playing this great game I truly do feel at home!
John Berger wrote in an essay on About.com stating that “The notion of home became the keystone for a code of domestic morality, safeguarding the property of the family”. I feel that the notion of home is not only safeguarding just your family but also what you hold dearest to you. In this case baseball, or the baseball diamond. Which is why I sincerely call this place a home or an “escape route” for me because of what all it has taught me, not only about the game itself but the way it has instilled some of life’s most valuable lessons. Sure my parents have instilled patience and overcoming adversity into my everyday life but if it weren’t for the hardships that a baseball diamond brought me, I do not think that I would have had any other way of experiencing those characteristics in a real life situation
I can relate to this and i have the same feelings. It is not the field that make or made us better it is the experiences that we have on it and it truly is a remarkable thing like you said because you can fail 70% of the time and be considered the best.
your essay about how you found home at the baseball field was really interesting. I could connect well because it was similar to how i found home at my old volleyball club. The time and effort put into any sport is so rewarding. I also like how you felt that by spending a significant amount of time at the field that it has made you a better person and helped with life lessons.
I like the paragraph that you included in your paper about your dad, and how he introduced you to the game of baseball. It is a very unique ability to be able to play a sport as well. I also like how you reassure the audience that your “home” isn’t negative by talking about the time you spend with your family. The connection you made with John Berger and your personal opinion was well written, and gives the readers a better understanding of the quote used, and your opinion.