Lance Armstrong as the best sports athlete, comparisons of Al Groh to Pete Gillen, support for Hoo Crew, lacrosse recruiting a high school student arrested of steroid use ...
The controversial topics that this systems engineer has written about this year are endless. In my entrance to the media world, I literally averaged 1.8 e-mails a week (oh yea, I kept track) of tirades from various sources. Criticisms ranged from accusations of a drug addiction to remarks that college students like myself should not be able to write in printed press. An independent sports site had over 50 messages at one point posted about one of my columns. The debate grew large enough to provoke ESPN radio to interview this seemingly insignificant columnist. Luckily, after this last column, these critics can breathe once again as the Cavalier Daily will be free of any sports commentary by this author.
While I would not be described as gentle, I never intended to hurt anyone and I apologize if it came out that way. I realize that taking a stance on an unpopular topic is no different than many other facets of life. Anytime someone takes a stance on a meaningful topic, there will be haters in the house. It is only in overcoming the fear of criticism that one can actually make a difference in society. Unfortunately, I imagine there are many people with a passion that are deterred by the threat of public mockery.
During my brief time covering Virginia sports, I was able to cover many stories of people ignoring negative feedback to reach their goals. After talking with the president of the Hoo Crew, it was sad to realize that a group of students that is so passionate about U.Va. sports to make a fan group is now the recipient of mockery by many fans outside the Hoo Crew. Yet this group was able to overcome criticism and form a fan group that will be the face of Virginia athletics within a few years.
In a different light, I was able to get to know Gilbert, a women's volleyball groupie at U.Va. Here is a professional computer consultant who devotes much of his free time towards being a volleyball groupie. I imagine many students have found humor in a grown man who fetches volleyballs as if they were the last drops of water in the Sahara desert. Yet Gilbert shows us all that if you are truly passionate about something, criticism does not have to be a barrier in your path.
While activists such as Martin Luther King or Ghandi took this principle to another level, I do not attempt to proclaim a comparison of their acts to that of a meager sports columnist. However, I cringed when I recently was told that the role of a sports columnist has no impact in the world. While lives may not be saved, a story is priceless if it is able to bring hope and passion to its readers.
I wrote a story earlier this year on the desire for America to rally around the New Orleans Saints as a way to bring hope to a region ravaged by the hurricanes. The response from this column from students in the community proved the potential positive impact a story can have on a group of people.
I would like to end by thanking everyone that took the time to read this column every Tuesday. For better or worse, I hope at least I made your Tuesday slightly more interesting. My readers have ranged from psych ladies, drunkies, fellow fourth years who have nothing better to do, my girlfriend who has to pretend to read the columns each week or barn roommates who are planning a siege of Normandy.
To any potential aspiring movers and shakers in the audience, do not let the haters win. Use criticism to motivate you to greater heights and you will have the last laugh in the end. To steal a line from the great Edward Murrow, good night and good luck.
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