I am reading “Fearless Speech” by Mary Ann Franks. It is about the First Amendment, what saddens me in reading it is the history in the examples she provides, some I recalled but most not, when today we know there is a movement to white wash our darker past from our history books. Ms. Franks may be a good guest for you to talk to. As for having a legacy, you may not evolve into the next Ghandi that the world desperately needs, but in any given day you could be a Ghandi for someone out there and make a difference in their life whether your children, family, friends, a stranger, or even one of your readers. You may never know the difference you made in someone’s life, but they will, and that’s part of your legacy.
The professionalization of youth sports is WILD. As a former college athlete myself, I've sort of lived this world on both ends - as a player and now as a parent working my son through the hoops angle. Lots of outfits out there ready and willing to take your money, and lots of it, with no real guarantee of high quality instruction. Youth sports and all it's trappings have become a real racket.
On the legacy part - Obviously, this is something that all men/women, of a certain age begin to ponder. I've sort of landed on this w/regards to how I feel about legacy, and I think it pertains to your situation as well:
The moment you made the commitment to being a good husband and father, your legacy was cemented.
What you've done or are going to do professionally, pales in comparison to the responsibilities of those roles.
Unless you are somebody completely different from the experiences you've shared with us, I think you are going to be ok on this front.
Love that you share what you are thinking that is unique to you. I would love to see more on the scam that is travel sports and how they lead to further inequality and division in the nation. I grew up with school sports (you played for your school) and little league (no travel split off) and that was enough. But now parents think (dream) that their kids will get a sports scholarship and travel sports are the ticket to that outcome. All the while their local public school sports teams lose talent and the community loses their best.
Where is live, kids can't make the school teams unless they play on other teams, most of which travel. No one gets on a freshman team unless they've played with recreational teams since they were very young. It's the way it is now and I pity the parents.... and their children who don't have the resources (time or money) to get involved early.
My two cents on Legacy... most of us have a very small piece of the world that we have influence on.... at the end, hopefully those family and close friends will surround me and hopefully they will pay it forward and so it goes..... no, i don't think the "breaking news" will be remembered, although it's worthwhile to keep reporting, but things like sharing your faith journey, building relationships will.
Chris, you should read the piece in the Post today about kids' go-carting as a steppingstone to Formula 1. I thought travel softball was expensive . . .
All sound like wonderful areas for writing (and I write this as someone who is definitely not religious).
Legacies are a tough thing to define. The vast majority of us will never become "famous", or even anything close to that. The best that we can do is to be good to those around us and hopefully, the ripple effect of that will lead to those people being good to those around them, and so on and so forth.
way too young to be thinking about your "legacy"...your legacy is about how you lived, the lives you've touched, and the differences you made in the lives others...it's pretty simple...
Stuff like this is why I subscribe. You're real and you share it with us - good, bad & indifferent.
I think many of us struggle with the "legacy" concept - what's "real" or "enduring"? Despite how "successful" we may be monetarily or prestige in our profession, there is an element of Woj's view of "is that all there is?".
So, you're not alone in the struggle or concept. I'm along for the ride and appreciate you sharing it with us.
I recently asked my 88 year old dad if he remembered a crazier election cycle than this one. He said 1948 was pretty wild because there were 4 serious candidates. The only thing I really know about '48 is the famous picture of Harry Truman holding up the "Dewey Wins" headline. I'd love to know more about it.
I also look forward to hearing more about your faith journey. I appreciate your willingness to share that with us.
I really like your ideas here. I will be tagging along to see what takes, what changes, what's discarded. Great job keeping things for you and us flowing!!!
I am reading “Fearless Speech” by Mary Ann Franks. It is about the First Amendment, what saddens me in reading it is the history in the examples she provides, some I recalled but most not, when today we know there is a movement to white wash our darker past from our history books. Ms. Franks may be a good guest for you to talk to. As for having a legacy, you may not evolve into the next Ghandi that the world desperately needs, but in any given day you could be a Ghandi for someone out there and make a difference in their life whether your children, family, friends, a stranger, or even one of your readers. You may never know the difference you made in someone’s life, but they will, and that’s part of your legacy.
You may never know the difference you made in someone’s life, but they will, and that’s part of your legacy.
YES YES YES to this last part Steve! Well said!
The professionalization of youth sports is WILD. As a former college athlete myself, I've sort of lived this world on both ends - as a player and now as a parent working my son through the hoops angle. Lots of outfits out there ready and willing to take your money, and lots of it, with no real guarantee of high quality instruction. Youth sports and all it's trappings have become a real racket.
On the legacy part - Obviously, this is something that all men/women, of a certain age begin to ponder. I've sort of landed on this w/regards to how I feel about legacy, and I think it pertains to your situation as well:
The moment you made the commitment to being a good husband and father, your legacy was cemented.
What you've done or are going to do professionally, pales in comparison to the responsibilities of those roles.
Unless you are somebody completely different from the experiences you've shared with us, I think you are going to be ok on this front.
youth sports is a wildly unregulated multi-billion dollar industry
love the youth sports idea/ I have turned off CNN and MSNBC in my office during the day and gone to ESPN
As a cancer survivor, WOJ piece hit me hard too. What's important in life. The rest is just air
Love that you share what you are thinking that is unique to you. I would love to see more on the scam that is travel sports and how they lead to further inequality and division in the nation. I grew up with school sports (you played for your school) and little league (no travel split off) and that was enough. But now parents think (dream) that their kids will get a sports scholarship and travel sports are the ticket to that outcome. All the while their local public school sports teams lose talent and the community loses their best.
Where is live, kids can't make the school teams unless they play on other teams, most of which travel. No one gets on a freshman team unless they've played with recreational teams since they were very young. It's the way it is now and I pity the parents.... and their children who don't have the resources (time or money) to get involved early.
Try something in sports with Chuck Todd. You both have knowledge and enjoyment.
My two cents on Legacy... most of us have a very small piece of the world that we have influence on.... at the end, hopefully those family and close friends will surround me and hopefully they will pay it forward and so it goes..... no, i don't think the "breaking news" will be remembered, although it's worthwhile to keep reporting, but things like sharing your faith journey, building relationships will.
Keep on......
Chris, you should read the piece in the Post today about kids' go-carting as a steppingstone to Formula 1. I thought travel softball was expensive . . .
All sound like wonderful areas for writing (and I write this as someone who is definitely not religious).
Legacies are a tough thing to define. The vast majority of us will never become "famous", or even anything close to that. The best that we can do is to be good to those around us and hopefully, the ripple effect of that will lead to those people being good to those around them, and so on and so forth.
way too young to be thinking about your "legacy"...your legacy is about how you lived, the lives you've touched, and the differences you made in the lives others...it's pretty simple...
Stuff like this is why I subscribe. You're real and you share it with us - good, bad & indifferent.
I think many of us struggle with the "legacy" concept - what's "real" or "enduring"? Despite how "successful" we may be monetarily or prestige in our profession, there is an element of Woj's view of "is that all there is?".
So, you're not alone in the struggle or concept. I'm along for the ride and appreciate you sharing it with us.
Chris, keep the creativity flowing! You will instinctively know what to do!
I wake up every morning and ask God to allow me to be of maximum service to God and my fellow man
Do something for someone else today without them knowing who you are and you not knowing who they are
A Jewish sage was challenged to teach the 613 mizvot (deeds/guidelines) while standing on one foot
He said the 613 could be reduced to the 10 commandments which can be reduced to love your fellow man
When we do something positive for another it gets carried forward
I recently asked my 88 year old dad if he remembered a crazier election cycle than this one. He said 1948 was pretty wild because there were 4 serious candidates. The only thing I really know about '48 is the famous picture of Harry Truman holding up the "Dewey Wins" headline. I'd love to know more about it.
I also look forward to hearing more about your faith journey. I appreciate your willingness to share that with us.
Thank you, Chris. This takes me back to your search for God.
In your piece, you and Wojnarowski use an interesting line, "...in the end. It’s just vapor."
I'm sure you are familiar with the opening lines of Ecclesiastes:
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
What does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils under the sun?
The direct interpretation of the word translated as 'vanity' here is 'vapor.'
Without God and the families He gives us, what is anything really worth?
And our families are just a model of our direct and personal relationship with God.
As has been said, 'Don't sweat the small stuff.' Well, in the end we realize it's ALL small stuff.
I really like your ideas here. I will be tagging along to see what takes, what changes, what's discarded. Great job keeping things for you and us flowing!!!
Nobody remembers. It’s all just vapor. As a retired person I must say that is inevitable