So, as the season winds to a close, I start thinking about all the things I could have done different, to make this a successful season, personally. As a team, we didn't have a great season. Personally, my season was an absolute disaster. It started with me hurting my left hamstring during a company softball game. As the left one started to heal, I hurt my right hamstring during a league softball game. So, here I stand, training hard since October of 2011 to play semi-pro football, and I have 2 hamstring issues and haven't even played a game yet. Needless to say it effected the first 5 games of the season. I played sparsely in the first 3 game. I could play a few plays, and would have to come out, stretch out, and go back in. So I decided that i'd sit for the 4th and 5th game, and be ready to play the second half of the season fully healthy. By the 6th game, I felt good, not great, but I felt my hamstrings were good enough to play competitively. I started at corner and slot against the Timberjacks. I thought I had played well through the first quarter. Even had a pass defended in the end zone, not only saving a touchdown, but getting us the ball back on offense. I did end up costing my team 2 touchdowns on mistakes at my position. One was a running play, where I over pursued into the backfield, and the other was a pass play where I didn't realize I had the coverage on the tight end, until it was too late. I ultimately got pulled on defense in favor of Alex. They felt I was getting picked on, at the corner, though I disagreed with the decision, the coaches decision is final. I came back for the 7th game, fired up, ready to play again. This time they had me starting at strong safety. I have to tell you, I really enjoyed playing that position. I got to pretty much play linebacker, and corner at the same time. I love run support, and I don't have a problem covering guys (though my coaches might have a different opinion). Either way, things were going well until late in the first quarter. I crashed hard onto the tight end, at the line, to try and stop a running play coming my way. As I connected with the TE, the Tackle came across and crashed hard on me. I remember our helmets connecting, but I don't remember anything else until I got up. I stood up, and saw stars, and then fell backwards. Everything else is kind of sketchy after that. I remember being on the ground, and someone talking to me. I thought at first it was my head coach, until I saw the stripes of the refs shirt. I then remember people helping me up, and being walked off the field. I don't remember what they were saying to me, or what I was saying to them. One of my team mates said I called him "Sweetheart" as I got to the sideline, but I don't remember that. So needless to say I got a concussion. So, here I sit, miss the first five games, for the most part, because of a stupid hamstring issue, and then i'm going to miss at least the next 2 games, probably all 3, because of a concussion.
My biggest issue isn't the injuries, or about how much work I put in. The biggest thing that hurts is that I didn't prove anything to myself, or my team mates. I was a complete non-factor. I didn't catch 1 pass, or really make any plays on defense. I had all these visions of success, and none of them came to fruition. There are a lot of things I should have done differently. I should have stretched more, or paid more attention to my hamstrings in my training.
The positives from all of this is I now know what I need to focus on this off season in order to be the player I wanted to be, for next season. The only issue is, I do not know, at this time, if there is going to be a next season. This concussion has me worried about my future, family, and health. I have a lot of things to weigh, and doctors to talk with before I make a final decision. I am hopeful I can play, because I feel like I still have a lot more to give this team, and a lot more to prove to myself, before I hang it up for good.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
My ride was thought provoking.
Yesterday was kind of a major accomplishment for me. That morning, I had decided that I am going to ride the Wiouwash Trail in Oshkosh. I didn't plan on riding all the way to Hortonville, but that is what I ended up doing. I then turned around and rode back home. It was a great accomplishment for me because I hadn't rode that long in probably 25 years! I think I've done one trip longer, and that was all the way across the city of San Diego with my mom and sisters. Since then, my furthest ride has been 25 miles, and that was on a stationary bike. This trip was 44 miles long, when all was said and done. http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/55310740
I had a lot of time to think yesterday while riding that trial, by myself. I thought about playing football, and what I still needed to work on before the season started. I thought about my career, and how I've really put my "job" on the back seat while I train for the upcoming season. Not saying I neglect my duties, not at all, but I do not put in the study time that I have put in, in the past. I normally would go home, and study on a subject, until I had it down. Now my extra time is spent working with the boys, lifting weights, riding bikes, or studying my play book. I am not apologetic for it, because I truly believe this is what I have to do in order to be successful. If I am not successful this season, then it is a waste of my time, the teams time, and my family's time, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
I also had time to think about my family. I thought about my mom (Rose), and how we used to always go on bike rides all around San Diego, because she didn't drive, and outside of public transportation, it was our only means of transportation. I thought about my sisters, and how I regret not seeing them more, and spending more time with them.. I thought about my brother Josh, and how I wish he could play football with me before my window closes for this type of competition. I think it would be something we could both share with our sons, to show them it is never too late to pursue something you love to do. I thought about my brother Sean, and how I wish I could convince him to get off his ass and face the world. I also thought about all my nieces and nephews, and how I need to be a better Uncle to all of them. My mom (Kathy), and how she always made living at home tolerable, and protecting us from...............
I thought about my dad, and how I wish he could see how much I have really accomplished in my life. As much as I outwardly deny that I care one way or another, what he thinks about me, deep down, we all want to make our parents proud, no matter how things all went growing up.
I thought about all the friends that have come and gone out of my life since the beginning, and how I wonder what each and every one of them are doing.
I thought about my girlfriend, Kathy, and how supportive she has been of everything I want to do, and work for. I thought about our future together, and what that is actually going to be. I thought about the boys, Brandon and Jake, and how they really view me. Maybe i'm just another one of their mother's boyfriends. I really hope they think more of me than that, but honestly, I don't really know how they feel about me. I try hard to set an example, and to work hard, and to give them all the things they need to be successful. I knew growing up, that I wanted for so many things, but I know for a fact that these boys want for nothing. That's the way I want it to be, and I just hope that the message is getting across to them.
Finally, I thought about my son, Liam. I thought about how I am going to help him become the man I never was. I thought about how I want to instill in him, hard work, and the success that goes along with it. I wished he was riding there with me, and how we could just sit and chat about so many things. I don't want him to ever doubt how much I love him, and I want him to realize how much he has changed my life. I am not the same person I was 4 years ago. My priorities have completely changed, and I know that my actions do not only effect me anymore. I feel that if I do not work hard to succeed, I cannot ask anyone else to do it either. So, I will lead by example.
I had a lot of time to think yesterday while riding that trial, by myself. I thought about playing football, and what I still needed to work on before the season started. I thought about my career, and how I've really put my "job" on the back seat while I train for the upcoming season. Not saying I neglect my duties, not at all, but I do not put in the study time that I have put in, in the past. I normally would go home, and study on a subject, until I had it down. Now my extra time is spent working with the boys, lifting weights, riding bikes, or studying my play book. I am not apologetic for it, because I truly believe this is what I have to do in order to be successful. If I am not successful this season, then it is a waste of my time, the teams time, and my family's time, as I have mentioned in previous posts.
I also had time to think about my family. I thought about my mom (Rose), and how we used to always go on bike rides all around San Diego, because she didn't drive, and outside of public transportation, it was our only means of transportation. I thought about my sisters, and how I regret not seeing them more, and spending more time with them.. I thought about my brother Josh, and how I wish he could play football with me before my window closes for this type of competition. I think it would be something we could both share with our sons, to show them it is never too late to pursue something you love to do. I thought about my brother Sean, and how I wish I could convince him to get off his ass and face the world. I also thought about all my nieces and nephews, and how I need to be a better Uncle to all of them. My mom (Kathy), and how she always made living at home tolerable, and protecting us from...............
I thought about my dad, and how I wish he could see how much I have really accomplished in my life. As much as I outwardly deny that I care one way or another, what he thinks about me, deep down, we all want to make our parents proud, no matter how things all went growing up.
I thought about all the friends that have come and gone out of my life since the beginning, and how I wonder what each and every one of them are doing.
I thought about my girlfriend, Kathy, and how supportive she has been of everything I want to do, and work for. I thought about our future together, and what that is actually going to be. I thought about the boys, Brandon and Jake, and how they really view me. Maybe i'm just another one of their mother's boyfriends. I really hope they think more of me than that, but honestly, I don't really know how they feel about me. I try hard to set an example, and to work hard, and to give them all the things they need to be successful. I knew growing up, that I wanted for so many things, but I know for a fact that these boys want for nothing. That's the way I want it to be, and I just hope that the message is getting across to them.
Finally, I thought about my son, Liam. I thought about how I am going to help him become the man I never was. I thought about how I want to instill in him, hard work, and the success that goes along with it. I wished he was riding there with me, and how we could just sit and chat about so many things. I don't want him to ever doubt how much I love him, and I want him to realize how much he has changed my life. I am not the same person I was 4 years ago. My priorities have completely changed, and I know that my actions do not only effect me anymore. I feel that if I do not work hard to succeed, I cannot ask anyone else to do it either. So, I will lead by example.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
So Much Change....
It has been a while since my last post. I will say that I am working just as hard as I did when I started training to play semi-pro ball. I've joined endomondo.com, to enter more contests for training. For work, we are doing a biking competition, May 1st through August 31st. I'm tracking all my workouts now on the website, and all updates on my progress will be posted to both my Facebook, and Twitter accounts. It is just one more source of motivation for me, as if I really needed any more.
Tryouts/Mini-camp was this past Sunday. I have to say that I was very happy with how I performed. There are still things I need to work on, but all in all, it went really well. I need to study the playbook a little harder as well. I'm going to try and take at least an hour each night and do playbook study. I not only want to learn the B receiver plays, but I also want to learn the A, X, and Z. I know I had planned on trying out for B, and that's where I lined up during mini-camp, but I am thinking I would like to try A as well, just because in certain formations, there are more running plays. Also, my hands, still have a lot of work to do there. I just need more and more reps. I need to keep working on my hand strength. Things are progressing, but it never seems like it is fast enough for me.
In closing, I will say I have learned so much about myself since October. I've learned about my limits, and how I really do not have any. Everything I've put in front of myself, I've been able to conquer, and surpass. I really never take the time to step back and see what I have accomplish. I just keep pushing harder, and working towards perfection. I need more video time, more cardio time, more plyo time, and bottom line, more training time. Again, I don't want to play for the Outlaws just to tell people I play semi-pro football. I want to play to make the team better. If I am not making a difference out there, then I am wasting my time, my family's time, and the Outlaws' time. I have come a long way, as I stated before. I've dropped about 25 lbs since I started training. I am not sure how much body fat, but I am noticing a difference. I've consumed TONS of supplements, lifted countless amounts of weight, biked, and sprinted hundreds (if not a thousand) miles. If I don't play at a high level, I can say it is not for a lack of trying. I don't know where I stand compared to other athletes, pro, semi-pro, college, or high school. I do know what I have put in to succeeding, and all I can do is hope that it is enough.
Tryouts/Mini-camp was this past Sunday. I have to say that I was very happy with how I performed. There are still things I need to work on, but all in all, it went really well. I need to study the playbook a little harder as well. I'm going to try and take at least an hour each night and do playbook study. I not only want to learn the B receiver plays, but I also want to learn the A, X, and Z. I know I had planned on trying out for B, and that's where I lined up during mini-camp, but I am thinking I would like to try A as well, just because in certain formations, there are more running plays. Also, my hands, still have a lot of work to do there. I just need more and more reps. I need to keep working on my hand strength. Things are progressing, but it never seems like it is fast enough for me.
In closing, I will say I have learned so much about myself since October. I've learned about my limits, and how I really do not have any. Everything I've put in front of myself, I've been able to conquer, and surpass. I really never take the time to step back and see what I have accomplish. I just keep pushing harder, and working towards perfection. I need more video time, more cardio time, more plyo time, and bottom line, more training time. Again, I don't want to play for the Outlaws just to tell people I play semi-pro football. I want to play to make the team better. If I am not making a difference out there, then I am wasting my time, my family's time, and the Outlaws' time. I have come a long way, as I stated before. I've dropped about 25 lbs since I started training. I am not sure how much body fat, but I am noticing a difference. I've consumed TONS of supplements, lifted countless amounts of weight, biked, and sprinted hundreds (if not a thousand) miles. If I don't play at a high level, I can say it is not for a lack of trying. I don't know where I stand compared to other athletes, pro, semi-pro, college, or high school. I do know what I have put in to succeeding, and all I can do is hope that it is enough.
Friday, March 30, 2012
New Blood
Since October, i've been weight training with Steve Hosfelt, preparing for my first season of semi-pro football. Steve and I both continue to progress. I am down to 173lbs, and my body fat has dropped 4% since I started training (according to my Omnitron Body fat tester). This week, we added a new training partner, Matt Erhard. He has decided to work towards playing with the Outagamie Outlaws as well. With Matt, he has the drive necessary to work hard, and achieve his goals. He is starting fast, and has momentum, and hopefully we can keep that momentum going, even through the rough patches, because there will be rough patches. Life gets in the way a lot, when it comes to training, and as long as you acknowledge, accept, and embrace those rough patches, you will be fine.
I've had plenty of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change anything. I have enjoyed training, and really look forward to the next year, and beyond. It really has been a lifestyle change for me, and hopefully it continues to enrich my life, and therefore influence those people who are part of my life. There is no final destination to this lifestyle change, other than death. For this to be a success, I have to be all in.
I've had plenty of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change anything. I have enjoyed training, and really look forward to the next year, and beyond. It really has been a lifestyle change for me, and hopefully it continues to enrich my life, and therefore influence those people who are part of my life. There is no final destination to this lifestyle change, other than death. For this to be a success, I have to be all in.
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