My younger brother, by contrast, had a much different experience. It encouraged me to work harder and create goals before I even understood what 'goal' meant. You know what that experience did? It fueled my fire. Some people call it politics, others claim the coaches don't know anything, I'm okay saying, 'I wasn't good enough.' My name NEVER showed up on the final list. I remember riding my bike to the park the Monday after tryouts to see the roster posted in the plexiglass case that served as the little league announcement board. Growing up the goal was to make 'All-Stars' after the regular season was complete. There is no amount of money in the world that is more valuable than that time I spent with my brothers, friends, and my Dad. We would end those summer nights catching lightning bugs, drinking milkshakes, and reenacting our own SportsCenter highlight reel.

The time we spent was not scheduled, the rules were what me made them, and the trophy was a high-five or a hug. Those memories will be etched into my soul for life, and make up so much of who I am today. What I do remember are the driveway battles playing basketball against my brother, my dad playing all-time QB throwing TD passes to us in street football, and imitating every player in the Cubs lineup in backyard Wiffle Ball games.

When I look back at my own childhood I can tell you very little, if anything, that happened in an organized sport before the age of maybe 12 or 13. The irony is that even though we know the difference a fraction of time can make, we continue to take that time for granted and give it away. Just in the last couple years we've seen Clemson knock off Alabama for a football national championship on the last play, Villanova beat North Carolina on a buzzer beater, and finishes that were too close to call in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Nelson gord