Playing for something Bigger than us

Some of us in sports are just out here participating, and some of us are playing for something bigger than us. Example, Serena Williams she is not playing for money anymore she has all the money one can need, she has won every major title there is to win in tennis many times over. She is playing for her legacy, she is playing for all the hard work she has put in since she was this young child growing up in the tough streets of Compton, Ca many years ago, she is playing for all the countless hours she has spent practicing, all the injuries she has battled through, she is playing in honor of one of sisters who was killed some years ago, she is playing to show other people of color that you to can be great and achieve in a sport that very few people of color play in let alone excel. See Serena is doing something before our eyes that has not been done before she has been so dominant that they have renamed "The Grand Slam", "The Serena Slam" while she holds all the titles currently. The place where she comes from this is not suppose to be happening, she is not suppose to be this good, this dominant, this smart, this classy, able to speak the foreign languages of the countries she wins in. She has many of the top sponsors of the world backing her, but she is from Compton, she is black, she comes from a place where the odds are against her. She is an example of what is possible when you nurture, love and invest time in someone who is truly gifted. Every now and then God sends us a star amongst stars one that is able to shine the brightest of them all. You may ask why? Serena gives hope to that young girl growing up in bad conditions, she gives hope to women who think they can't make it, she inspires many and show what is possible when you walk in your gift. Many have wondered why I am a huge fan of her game and rate her as my favorite athlete. Some say it is because her body, money, and that I like her. Those are cool reasons but I am a fan of her story of hope, and the many reasons stated above.

 

I recall racing at the 805 crit series a few weeks ago up north 3hrs away from my home. As I was racing on the last day of the series I saw a young black girl she had to be maybe 10-12 years of age we made eye contact it was a moment I remember very clearly. Lap after lap she was looking at me, and the only thing I was thinking was I need to do well, she was probably thinking I have never seen anyone of color race a bike. It is something I do not think about a ton when I ride or race that I am a black man participating in a sport very few black people line up in. However when I am at an event and I see someone of color that I do not know and they see me it is one of the weirdest things. Not in a bad way weird, but in a cool way. We naturally connect or make eye contact. For example I race Ladera Ranch GP every year down south in Orange County, Ca. It is one of my most favorite races on the calendar, the course is very cool and the sun is always out and the people are nice. There is this one older Black man he has to be in his late 60's or more. He lives on the course I do not know his name but each year I race this race I see him and we talk for a few minutes either before or after I race. He always ask "how have you been, how is your season going, you looking fit again". If you sat around us talking you would think we were family or have known each other for some time. We do not know each other besides me seeing him at the race over the years. We just naturally connect because he is a man of color like myself but the real reason why we connected was because I am in a place where very few men of color show up. The next question is probably how do we get more people of color in the sport of cycling, tennis, golf? I am not completely sure but I know these sports are not cheap and the cost is a huge factor, hopefully with time we will see more people of color more involved in these sports that few people of color line up in. Have a great day and continue being the Champion you were born to be. GB