When Individualism Is Good

I had the pleasure of watching 2 of my fav tennis players (after Roger Federer😢) play in the quarter finals at Roland Garros, aka French Open, and win – 1) Alexander “Sasha” Zverev who defeated Carlos Alcaraz, and, 2)  Rafa Nadal who ****YIPPEEEEEEE***** defeated Novak Djokovic. I could have been happier if Federer had played, but given the fact he didn’t play… I. AM. HAPPY.

Individual sports is quite reflective of the … um…well…  individual. Yes – you can be the BEST, strongest, well trained athlete, …but do you have integrity? Drive? Desire? Yes – you can have the most money, best coaches, most sophisticated training, but – do you have the same FIRE that burns inside of the Roger Federers, Rafa Nadals, Jimmy Conors, the Chrissy Everets, Martina Navratilovas – who won her last singles title at age 38, etc.? There are two tennis player object lessons on the world stage right now, both errily similar – one pretty much written and done, the other still yet to be seen: 1) Bernard Tomic –  age 29, from Australia, wealthy family, supportive father, Bernard born with natural talent, blessed with the best equipment and trainers – seemingly hell bent on being a train wreck and blaming everyone in the process; 2) Nick Kyrgios – age 27 – also from Australia, also from a wealthy family and supportive father, blessed with crazy natural talent, supported by the best equipment and trainers – straddling the fence between being sick good or going full-bore into self destruction. Do they have THAT integrity, THAT drive, THAT fire? Or does that matter? In individual sports, it’s just you, the ball, the racquet, the net, and the space between the net and your opponent – but more importantly the space between your ears. THAT’S IT! It’s what you do with all of those componets that leads you to a win. However, 78′ away from you on the court, is another individual who passionately desires the same outcome as you.

Individual expression through sports, solo arts – singing, piano, playing instruments, painting, etc., bares the soul of the individual. I participated a tad in gymastics in jr. high, high school, and some in college. I have also been involved with a piano since around 8 years old culminating in a University degree at age 23. Along with my solo classical piano work, I played for numerous singing groups. I ❣️loved ❣️ singing in all types of groups from duets, trios, on up to my ultimate, lifetime fav – Weigle Singers – for all my years in college. The ONE group I REEEEEEEALLY wanted to join – after being personally invited to apply to join the group (an unheard-of proposition at that time) Derric Johnson’s Regeneration (https://youtu.be/PujykQFOgLQ ) was prohibited by overly cautious parents. But – Life goes on.

If you watch Mary Lou Retton’s vault that earned her a SOLID 10 in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics – WELL earned!! – you SEE THAT fire. Me, personally – I idolized Olga Korbut when she was in the 1972 Olympics, with the USSR [Communist Russia], and BLEW THE MINDS of the judges – as well as my mind as a 12yr old, as I watched and tried to emulate some of her moves, but NOT the backflip on the uneven parallel bars – having NEVER – EVER been attempted before… she blew it up. She taught every little girl, every tumbler, cart-wheeler, back-bender, front-flipper, even ME –  DO! IT!

Yet team sports are just as vital as individual spoŕts. They teach the importance of acknowledging and listening to authority, following rules, understanding and implementing a game plan, adherence to protocol, working with and having your teammate’s back – Camaraderie!

These are all precursors, or should be, to our relationships and how we maneuver all through life. Obviously, the more practice, the better maneuverability. It’s never a guaranteed successful outcome, but whatever the outcome – the individual, even within the team, can draw personal gratification knowing that THAT fire engulfs everything.