Remember when you were little, and the sky was the limit in your mind? Some kids wanted to be astronauts, others wanted to be president. Still others wanted to be movie stars, or even train engineers (hey, lots of young kids loved trains – my younger brother was a freak about it … he ended up becoming an engineer, but not a train engineer).
I didn’t want to be any of these. No, instead, I wanted to be an ice hockey goalie. Sure, I had never, ever ice-skated before, but I figured that would be easy enough to learn. I was decent in all sports, but in my school, I was one of the best floor hockey players in my class. I used to wow the classmates in gym class … probably because hardly any of them played street hockey like I did on a religious basis. I was great in net, and had a devasting left-handed wrist shot … plus, my ball-handling skills were impeccable (and I was pretty good in hockey too … hey-yo!).
The problem is that I didn’t grow up in Canada (or Sweden, or any other place that had lots of ice). In fact, at the time, there really weren’t many opportunities for kids in our area to play hockey … and the opportunities that WERE available were, quite honestly, out of our price range. Still, I thought that somehow, someday, I would be playing ice hockey for my favorite team, the Philadelphia Flyers. I would someday trade in the baseball glove I used, and the sock I stuffed down my pants (to protect the boys, of course) for real hockey equipment.
Sadly, that day never did come. As I grew up, I realized that hockey wasn’t to be. I played in some deck hockey leagues, and realized that I was average at best compared to some of the others who apparently lived, breathed, and drank (heavily) hockey. I still enjoy the sport to a great extent … especially when the Flyers are doing well.
And one time, I even got to meet Jim Craig, the goalie of the 1980 gold medal winning Olympic team from USA. He was an idle of mine growing up – and as fate would have it, he was doing some sort of promotional appearances for the Leukemia Society when I was working there. I got to have my picture taken with him, and even got to tell him how much I enjoyed watching him play in those Olympic games. We spoke for about 10 minutes, and he was a great guy – really seemed to be thankful and was humbled that he had such an impact on my life.
Passing The Baton
10 months ago
9 comments:
I had to give up my dream of porn. Too big.
That is sweet.
If it makes you feel any better, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.
:o)
When I was growing up, I wanted to be an oceanographer or marine biologist. Anything that had to do with the ocean really. I don't know why I never did, I guess the new-fangled computers wowed me enough to set me on the multimedia career course.
i feel your pain, los.... growing up on long island, i was a street hockey freak with my mike bossy jersey.... eventually mom and dad made the $$$ investment for real equipment and i tried out for the HS ice hockey team in 9th grade.... needless to say i was a poor defenseman and a 3rd string goalie for the 4 years i played ice hockey.... good times though
i wanted to be a doowop girl with big hair and sparkly costumes. still do.
Early on it was "Astronaut" of course, but I think by the time I was playing baseball in the little leagues - it was MLB all the way!!
Then, just like you Los - I made it to Varsity - and pitching to those guys was like a whole different game. I barely survived my debut outing.. literally - a batter almost took my head off with a line drive... then there were the two home runs I gave up that game...shortly after that season I decided to get a job instead. Yuk!!
Los, that's so cute!!
When I was really little, I wanted to be a veterinarian. Then I decided in the third grade I wanted to be a writer. That really never went away.
:)
--snow
I scored 12 goals in a gym hockey game as a ute, and tried to play it as an adult on roller blades and was terrible. It got to the point wher I'd leave the bench for a line change and find a big dude and skate along side him saying: "You wanna, go? You wanna go?" It's like basketball for me in that you can really take advantage of someone who didn't grow up playing it, with moves and tricks and so forth.
Kobe Bryant's favorite sports moment: the 1980 miracle on ice.
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