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Show c Sportstacular Page 2 September 20, 1979 'Don 'it Ibotifoer wMd Mm kad', yom siMgM by John Peterion Dear Kid: I saw your game today. I saw you drop that pass in the end zone, or miss the free throws, or strike out with the bases loaded, or trip on that last hurdle. I saw you hang your head, and I knew how bad you felt. I felt bad, too, but for a different reason. I felt bad fan bother you with that you let a loudmouth, his abuse. Most of the spectators felt the same way I did, kid. They wanted you to win. . . to do well. . . to be proud of yourself. The ignorant Jerk that was on your back is a minority but you better get used to him hecause voull be meeting him again. Hell always be there at the games; second-guessievery play, criticising everything that goes on. Hes an and hell drive the real fans obnoxious know-it-al- l, no-cla- ng crazy. When you leave school and go to work, youll meet him again. The first day on the Job hell come up to you with a dirty story, some tall tales about himself, and advice not to work too hard. Hell be on a bus with you someday, and hell tell you how the country is going to hell. If you ask, youll find that he hasnt bothered to vote for many years. Later on hell live in your neighborhood, and hell complain about how crummy the schools are. Of course, he wont join the PTA or get involved with them. What Im saying, kid, is that you have no reason to feel bad when a creep like him gives you a bad time. Hes a nowhere man, a lonesome guy who will do anything for attention even negative attention. He cant stand to see you out there being applauded. He knows that youve paid the price and he hasnt, but he resents you anyway. Hes got the attention he wanted, kid, and its all bad. People will continue to pay good money to watch you 1 play. Win or lose theyll respect your dedication and training. Before they sit down, though, theyll check to see that theyre a long way from the flannel-moutHes just jealous, ldd, and hell try to drag you down. Dont let him. My advise is to treat him like a bad smell. Hell talk about how pampered you athletes are, and how they should put on a better show. Hes a know-it-a- ll Cosell type who thinks the Bill of Rights has a clause saying the price of a ticket includes the right to criticize freely. Trouble is, he doesnt know what hes talking about. He doesnt know that a high school athlete spends hundreds of extra hours at no credit just for a chance to be on a team. Hes not aware that the college athlete, getting a free education, misses out on much of the good things in school. He has no idea of the tremendous amount of dedication that it takes to be a winner because hes nothing but a loser. Take the time you have to devote to athletics and use it instead in a job even at minimum wage-wh- ile youre going to school and youd make a lot more than your scholarship is worth. But he doesnt know that, and its useless to tell him. He doesnt realize that every time you suit up youre running the chance of injury that could last a lifetime. Years from now your broken bones will give you days of advance notice before a rainstorm. Your body may be so full of pins and plates that youll set off security alarms every time you walk through an airport. Your knee, knifed to correct injuries you could receive any time, may look like a map of the LA freeway system from the scars. But he doesnt know that, ldd, because he quit in high school after two weeks of fireshman ball. Hes got a war story to tell now, of course, but the fact is: he quit. Thats why people are avoiding him and cheering you. He doesnt understand how you can have so much pride in yourself and your abilities that you can go out h. before thousands of people and dare to make a mistake. He doesnt understand, ldd, because he does a nothing job all week, with a union that will keep him from getting fired no matter what he does or doesnt do. Even so, when an inspection is scheduled, hell phone in sick rather than let people see how he performs. You made a mistake today, kid. You let your team down, and yourself. Its natural you should feel bad we wouldnt respect you if you didnt. But next time youll do better. . .just like you did the time before last. Youve learned from your mistake, kid, and it wont happen again. Youve learned a lesson about life, too, and youve learned it cheap. There will always be mistakes, but youre learning how to cope with them. You already know that its better to do something wrong than to do who gave you a bad time has nothing. The slug-bu- tt never learned that lesson, and never will. Believe me, kid, five years from now you wont remember this particular mistake. The success and the great plays will stand out in sharp focus, but all those losses will just kind of merge together into a blur. You dont feel that way now - but its the truth. Fifteen years from now you wont remember either the individual good or the bad. What youll have will be a warm, pleasant memory of working hard, doing your best, and having a wonderful time. YouD also have the friends youre making now, and theyll be yours for life. Being insulted by that clown is Uke being kicked by a feeble-minde- d jackass, ldd. It isnt really much of an insult when you consider the source. Shake it off . Even as you were walking back to the bench with your head hanging, feeling awful, and wishing the mountain would fall on you, you were twice the man he ever will be. And everyone there knew it, Kid, especially him. stogie-chompin- g, JMMMMML beer-belchi- ng 1 D0S70 BQCa GRAND PRIX SZMj TRANS AM FIREBIRD to ip isra EMENDED r 099 09 f, WEgSESfiffl (g RURGKIASED BONNEVILLE a a a a VANS C5MC 3 1 r ON-TIK-SP- OT FINAtICItIG ON APPROVED CREDIT HIGHER TRADE-I- N VALUE (Used Cars Worth More) |