This is Dave. Just saw Bryan Clay on TV. That guy is seriously living my dream. I'm glad that he won, but dang..I can't believe that I just used to run with this guy during summer track and here he is, "the greatest athlete in the world." He was just this kid that really wanted to run and learn as much as he could about track. I still remember him asking me how to set his mark for a relay we were about to do. He used to tell me (when he was a freshman) that he couldn't play football because his mom was scared that he would get injured (just like my mom). My friends and I used to think that his dreams of becoming a world-class athlete were admirable (those were our dreams too) but just unattainable. Next thing I know, I find out from his coach that he's doing pole vaults, discus, and all that because now he wants to be a decathlete. I was like, "What?...Dang." I saw him win race after race while I was an assistant coach for McKinley, and just thought, "Wow..that guy learned a whole lot." It's been just 10 years since I last saw him run and since he graduated from high school and here he is...an Olympic gold medalist. Talk about determination and drive. I know there are a lot of athletes that have a fast track in becoming the best, but never thought of actually "seeing" it unfold. I know I wasn't there to see all his races and his practices, but to see where he was before and to see where he is now is amazing. I know it sounds like I'm pumping him up, but that guy truly deserves it. I guess dreams ARE that powerful. Caleb's gonna have to beat Jacob Clay one day...or at least meet him so I can tell his dad, "Thanks for being an inspiration."
Isn't this the gayest post ever??..lol
2 comments:
Ooooh, Dave. Get OFF the guy's nuts. Just kidding. It's nice to see the passion. In a strange way, don't you feel kinda proud?
I feel you, dawg. I'm tearing up right now just like I did when Mr. Miyagi's dad died in Karate Kid 2.
Nah, for real, sometimes I think that that delusional quality that dreamers seem to have is what separates people like Bryan Clay from the rest of us.
He dared to dream, and then went out and made his dream come true. You're right. Gotta give him props.
You never know. He might do his press conference and give a shout-out to that "well-dressed ESL Manong McKinley guy" who told him about setting his mark for relays. Then, YOU might really start crying.
$hit, call him out for the next Great Aloha Run. I still think you could take him...
Post a Comment