Beyond The Hardwood

For most of us reading or writing this, sports is life. It means more to us than just throwing a ball down a field, shooting a ball into a basket, or juggling a ball with our feet. 

For us, sports is integral to everything we do. We schedule our lives around our teams, take every opportunity we have to talk about it and we will play them until our body won't allow us to go anymore. We give ourselves to the sport unconditionally for what it will give us in return. 

It taught us how to win humbly, but even more importantly, lose graciously. It taught us strength, heart, conviction, will power, values, work ethic and purpose, all qualities we get from sports to carry into our everyday lives. Qualities we share with others who may not have had our opportunities and experiences, as well as those who have. We get to use those qualities to make a difference with our friends and communities, and help them grow and advance in positive ways. 

A select few get the opportunity to showcase these qualities on a bigger stage, passing on lessons learned from a lifetime of sports to not only their neighborhood or community, but to a nation, and in some cases, the world. They have the unique ability to use their talents for good, and when they do, it's a beautiful thing. 

It's easy for us to lose sight of the good these few athletes do. We get caught up in the money they make, cars and clothes they buy, women they marry, and even how a select few disrespect the gifts they have been given. We have a tendency to get caught up in our own fandom, so much so that we can be blinded to the positives that come from so many players. 

We always find a way to scold the spoiled and egocentric athlete, but we forget to honor, cherish and, most importantly, support the humble athletes who dedicate themselves to philanthropy on behalf of sports. Not because their agent told them to or because they are in trouble and want to clean up their image. They do it simply because it's what they believe in, what's close to their heart, what their parents and role models have taught and inspired them to do over the years. They do it because sports has taught them if they give themselves and devote themselves to a goal, they will be rewarded.

It is these athletes I want to recognize here in a new section called Beyond The Hardwood. I want to draw attention to their cause, help them fight their fight by informing you, the people who embrace sports and it's athletes so vigorously, of what these athletes in various sports are trying to do. 

Let's begin this journey off the hardwood floors and grassy fields, and into the arena of everyday life. Let's do our best to help our teammates in this arena. Give them support, pick them up when they fall, congratulate them when they win, console them when they lose. Let's take advantage of the media tools at our disposal to stand beside our favorite athletes and assist them in helping not only our planet, nations and cities, but also our communities, friends and families. So without further ado, let's step Beyond The Hardwood....