Actually worse. I don’t even know how to describe that throw. Oh wait, yes I do. Wait for it. Wait for it. Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. To think that all these years I have worshiped you and you can’t even throw a baseball more than five feet! I’m so embarrassed. *Tears down Mariah Carey poster from 1995 off bedroom wall* You’re dead to me Mariah. You hear me? DEAD!
And what’s up with those mascots? Jesus. If I were a kid and one of those mascots approached me, I’d probably destroy the back of my pants.
And because I want you to come away with something useful today, here’s a bit of inspiration. This is a picture that was featured on ESPN this morning of eight year old Adam Bender, a Little League catcher with one leg.
Adam lost his left leg to cancer when he was one and while he tried a prosthesis, he didn’t like it, and he refuses to use a wheelchair.
Adam is just another kid playing ball, which is exactly how his parents want it. From Kentucky.com:
“I was a little hesitant when we first brought him up here for baseball,” Michelle said. “I thought his spirit might be crushed if he got out every time. Then I thought, who am I to micromanage his feelings? He’s going to have to learn how to deal with this stuff. The more I shelter him, the more he’ll think, ‘I’m fragile.’ I don’t think I’ll ever tell him he can’t do something.”
Note to all parents: think of the above quote the next time you feel the need to call the school to ban dodgeball because little Danny’s feelings get hurt.
In addition to playing catcher for his Little League team, Adam also plays soccer (on crutches), is the quarterback for his YMCA flag football team (no crutches while the team utilizes the shotgun snap), and participates in many other sports that any normal eight year old plays. The kid is my new hero.
So the next time you feel “too tired” to go to the gym or you have a headache and can’t fathom getting off the couch to train, think of Adam.
