Hard Work Beats Talent
It was the type of situation you dream about as an athlete. As a matter of fact, I believe anybody who has ever played the game of basketball since James Naismith invented the sport in 1891 had thought about it at one time or even acted it out in their driveway or while throwing a piece of paper in the trash. The same scenario had already played itself out a hundred different times in my head. A chance to take the final game winning shot on the biggest stage in the biggest game of the year. I’ve taken this shot thousands of times and made it. It was almost second nature to me at this point, as natural as dribbling or passing the ball. But there’s always that little bit of doubt that creeps in that you always have to try and silence as an athlete like what if I miss? I’ve probably missed this shot a thousand times too. Everybody is counting on me from my teammates, coaches, friends, family, to the fans. Our whole entire season comes down to these final two shots. A pair of free throws, down by one, no time remaining on the clock, complete and utter silence. It’s all eyes on me, no pressure I guess.
It was my senior year of high school and basketball tryouts were underway. I know they were called tryouts but that was just a formality as we pretty much knew who would and wouldn’t make the team from the get go. It was pretty much set in stone with the exception of one or two benchwarmers who might be unseated by a young newcomer with some potential for the future. I had set some lofty goals for myself and my team this year and I knew what we were capable of. We boasted one of the best coaches in all of high school basketball who was well respected amongst the basketball community and his peers. Last year our whole starting line was made up of juniors and we made it all the way to the Final Four only points away from competing for the 4A Championship. We were so close we could taste it and that taste made us hungry. We put in work this...