Tim, Todd & Tiger… Oh, My!

This weekend was a little different from normal in that I watched several hours of TV. It’s not that I don’t want to watch TV, it’s just that whenever I have time to watch, the best shows are The Golden Girls or infomercials; after several viewings, even ShakeWeights lose their appeal. So, Friday night, I am flipping through the limited channels and happen upon an ESPN show documentary about Tim Tebow, whose religion apparently does not require him to wear shirts while exercising. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.)

I know who Tebow is: a former Heisman winning quarterback for Florida who now plays for the Broncos. His mother came to Natchitoches and spoke last year and I attended that presentation, so I know they are avidly pro-life Christians. What I didn’t know is that he is one of the most dedicated, hard-working people I have ever seen. He trained for the NFL combine with a fire and a passion that inspired me to be better. No doubt that he arrived on earth with physical attributes that many do not, but he spent many disciplined hours training to maximize those gifts.

So did Todd Marinovich, who I never heard of before last night (is there football outside of the SEC?). Todd’s father, Marv, was a maniacal trainer who began training Todd during infancy and strictly controlled his diet and exercise regimen. Born into a family of college athletes on both sides, he grew to be 6’4″ and as a freshman he led USC to the Rose Bowl. During last night’s special, he identified that as the pinnacle of his career. He felt that he had been born and bred to take USC to the Rose Bowl. After that achievement he floundered.

Another famous California father/son coaching duo are Earl and Tiger Woods. Tiger started golfing at age 2 and became one of the greatest golfers in the world. Without a doubt all these men are physically gifted, but without the discipline to spend hours training, none of them would have reached the pinnacles of success that they did. I admire them all for their achievements and honor their work ethic as greatness.

I am also thankful for the reminder that often achievement is the result of single-minded focus. It is hard to be a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, maid, cook, chauffeur, laundress, AND best-selling multipublished author. Sometimes I feel that hard = impossible, but that is not true. Hard = hard. Pressure can form diamonds or explode volcanoes. Optimal pressure for optimal outcome. That’s what I want Santa to bring this Christmas. That and some Cherry Cordial Kisses.