Sports writing for the Cavalier Daily is a funny thing. Prior to last week, I had this vision that when people saw my smiling face above a column, they chuckled and turned the page. Then I proceeded to write a column pointing out some similarities between Al Groh and another Virginia coach who will go unnamed, and the floodgates opened.
Lifelong Wahoo fans on the Sabre (Independent Virginia Sports message board) declared that I must have sniffed paint chips and clearly have never played competitive sports before. Even my music preference was attacked in a remark that the problem must be too much rap music as a kid. One extremely irate Sabre writer intelligently noted that I should be "chewed up and spit out." Even ESPN radio managed to find my cell phone so this ignorant college kid could be examined live on the radio.
First off, I feel honored that people even take the time during work to post comments about my childhood. I refuse to use this space to refute the above comments. People are entitled to their opinions and I do not expect everyone to agree with all (or any) of my points. Rather, I decided to look deeper into the realm of sports to discover what I look for in a sports program (while listening to rap music, of course).
The search commenced in a very intriguing NFL matchup between the Raiders, led by Randy Moss, and my beloved Eagles. Both teams possess many players who display excellent talent, athleticism and coaching to make for a game full of excitement.
As the game's final seconds wound down, a scene straight from the script of Rocky appeared. Sylvester Stallone himself would have been proud of the Rocky impersonation. Forget Moss, McNabb, or T.O., the Eagles KICKER, David Akers, stole the spotlight as he hobbled out to kick a game-winning field goal on one leg.
Earlier in the game, Akers tore his hamstring in a painful kicking injury. While many athletes (once you live with a kicker, you have no choice but to think they are indeed athletes) would have stayed on the sideline, Akers felt it was his duty to suck up the pain and walk onto the field to attempt the kick.
As the kick sailed through the uprights, Akers lay on the field in tears. It was at this moment that it dawned on me that this is the essence of sports. It is found in the undying fight to win, the will of certain players to go above and beyond their abilities for a group of teammates. David "Green" Akers could have used the injury as an excuse to stay on the bench, but he fought through the pain to propel the Eagles to victory.
What bothers me more than anything are the critics who argue that Virginia football expectations are too high due to the academic standards of this University. They are taking out the heart of sports that makes athletic competition what it is. A wise man once said that winning is not everything, but the will to win is.
Lack of talent, academic standards and a tough schedule are all just excuses that lead to players not believing in themselves. I saw a commercial this past weekend that said the man who thinks he will succeed and the man who does not think he can succeed are both right.
Now do not take this column as another way of bashing the Virginia football program. In fact I wholeheartedly respect everything Al Groh and his players have done for this University.
I just wish to see the fight, emotion and belief that this program can be the best. At the end of the day, it might not be the best. But at least the essence of sports was kept intact. Now, who wants some paint chips?
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