As I look through the empty fields; I remember the last shot i made, the last brisk I had on this ground, the last shout out to victory, the last hug by the team, the last walk towards the locker room, the last wave to the crowd and the tidal wave noise of millions watching me play and the last interview by the reporters. Until today I ruled the game, the team and the center of play. Millions flocked on the ground or television sets to watch me play, to cheer for me, wearing my shirts, posting my images everywhere and talking about me on various networking sites, analysts and critics talking about my game, reporters preparing their questions. This was the roar until I observed the curtains closed.
As I look through the empty fields; I recollect the times I spent right from my first score to the last shot I made, friends I made on and off field, fans cheered in riotous manner, teams eagerly waited for my trade, reporters waiting with their mikes, companies wanted me to advertise the product, changes in the teammates and coaches and my relationship with everyone, workout sessions and moral talks, jaunt from rookie to the leader, a player to a strategist, a listener to a motivator, a friend to a competitor and a champion. The never ending thoughts pauses for a final thought, Who am I and what will I be tomorrow?
It will be just another morning with my family, friends at gym and practice, but what changes then will be the thought of what I will be tomorrow. This feeling is not the thunderous music of the crowd, it's not the hand-wringing moments of my sweaty palms but an inner voice of reinvention. A voice which makes a smooth move towards the practicing court, the flushed news channel on predicting my next step. Truth is: I am just a normal human being like anyone and everyone and I lived the same life. Stardom came my way to the passion I shared for the game and the determination to go the extra mile. I was just another kid in the neighborhood and as I walk out I see the very next kid as a superstar; not because he wants to play like me, because I was just like him and I had the same twinkling eyes watching the legends play.
To people it would be the reincarnation, to the news reporters it would be getting ready for coaching, to the news channels it would be a stage for being the next game analysts and their approach to sign the contract. But it's not the same for me. It's not what is being portrayed to the rest of the world and not living up to anyone's expectations. When I'll look at myself, it'll be the same person eating string cheese since seventh grade, a friend to count 100 to 1 after 9 beers, a son who drives 350 miles for a family dinner, a dad who crafts kids' life in the disciplined manner, a husband helping in wife's shopping, a brother laughing at the craziest childhood thing and a student listening to the trainer.
It's not the end of road or beginning of one. It's about driving on the same road all your life with the morale of being what you are and what you believe in.
As I look through the empty fields; I recollect the times I spent right from my first score to the last shot I made, friends I made on and off field, fans cheered in riotous manner, teams eagerly waited for my trade, reporters waiting with their mikes, companies wanted me to advertise the product, changes in the teammates and coaches and my relationship with everyone, workout sessions and moral talks, jaunt from rookie to the leader, a player to a strategist, a listener to a motivator, a friend to a competitor and a champion. The never ending thoughts pauses for a final thought, Who am I and what will I be tomorrow?
It will be just another morning with my family, friends at gym and practice, but what changes then will be the thought of what I will be tomorrow. This feeling is not the thunderous music of the crowd, it's not the hand-wringing moments of my sweaty palms but an inner voice of reinvention. A voice which makes a smooth move towards the practicing court, the flushed news channel on predicting my next step. Truth is: I am just a normal human being like anyone and everyone and I lived the same life. Stardom came my way to the passion I shared for the game and the determination to go the extra mile. I was just another kid in the neighborhood and as I walk out I see the very next kid as a superstar; not because he wants to play like me, because I was just like him and I had the same twinkling eyes watching the legends play.
To people it would be the reincarnation, to the news reporters it would be getting ready for coaching, to the news channels it would be a stage for being the next game analysts and their approach to sign the contract. But it's not the same for me. It's not what is being portrayed to the rest of the world and not living up to anyone's expectations. When I'll look at myself, it'll be the same person eating string cheese since seventh grade, a friend to count 100 to 1 after 9 beers, a son who drives 350 miles for a family dinner, a dad who crafts kids' life in the disciplined manner, a husband helping in wife's shopping, a brother laughing at the craziest childhood thing and a student listening to the trainer.
It's not the end of road or beginning of one. It's about driving on the same road all your life with the morale of being what you are and what you believe in.
Games ended, Passion didn't.
