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Blog Entry 17 of 31 Dancing with Mr. Bojangles

This is a site where people of the Colorado Springs area - young and old - can share their thoughts on sports teams, sports figures, sports coaches and sports happenings. This blog is designed to help the community draw closer together. The pulse of the community is often related to sports. A high school football game brings people together for a night of celebration. A Little League baseball game brings out the child in all of us. Sports and athletics are a part of almost everybody's life. Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences.

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It's not always easy being a dad

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Contributed by: Danny Summers on 10/31/2006

I sat in the stands of the Eagleview Middle School gymnasium Monday afternoon nervous with anticipation of what I was about to see.

My 12-year-old son, Garrison, was preparing to wrestle the first match of his career against an opponent from Discovery Canyon.
Garrison, a seventh-grader at Eagleview, used the techniques taught to him by Eagleview wrestling coach Pete Hanenberg (former Air Academy High School wrestling coach) to defeat the Discovery Canyon wrestler, 9-5, in the 100-pound match that lasted three periods.

Garrison led the entire match and almost had a pin early in the first period. As I watched my son maneuver on the mat, I was amazed at his abilities. I was excited for him, yet protective. I wanted so much to help him, yet I knew that it was time to succeed or fail.

When the match was over, the referee held up his arm in victory and his smile told the story as the crowd cheered. I was never so proud.
During his match I thought to myself 'What will I say to him if he loses? How will he react? Will he be crushed? Will he give up and never want to wrestle again?'

I did my best to keep my emotions in check, but it was difficult.
Sports is a great venue for teaching life's lessons. It helps children develop a better understanding for the ups and downs of life. Not every day is a celebration. Not every day is the worst day of our lives. It's how we deal the twists and turns of life that make us better people and more valuable members of society.

I still am learning those life lessons through sports. I play in the Men's Senior Baseball League in town and pitch for the Indians. I have been blessed with a great right arm and am still able to throw a fastball more than 80 mph. I have a decent slider, effective change-up and good control.

But as I have gotten older, my body has endured the aches and pains along the way. I am out of shape, overweight, and often times take the mound unprepared. So why is that I am surprised when I give up a home run or get knocked around the yard? Why do I get angry at myself?

The answer is, of course, that sometimes we get beat no matter how good we are. Sometimes we just aren't as prepared as our opponent Sometimes things don't go our way. And sometimes, we just aren't able to do things as well as we once did.

My hope for my son is that he uses his wrestling experience to expand his borders. I want him to think outside of the box and look beyond the trees for the answers he seeks. Sometimes, doing 50 push-ups a night is not enough. Another 10 would make a big difference.

Garrison has several more matches this year and he likely will not win them all. But when the season is over, and he reflects back on his time with his teammates and coaches, I want him to have grown into a better person.

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