Keep Pounding

Keeping warm at NFC Championship Game in my In the Arena / L.L. Bean down hoodie

After moving to Charlotte in May, I have had the privilege of having two professional high-profile professional sports teams quite literally in my own backyard: The Carolina Panthers and The Charlotte Hornets. I’ll be the first to admit that I really enjoy watching other professional athletes at the top of their games “throw down” live or on television showcasing God-given talent and nerves of steel. I love every part of it: watching the warm-up, seeing how coaches handle adversity, the interaction between opposing teams, witnessing how good (or bad) some players are under pressure, and the hype of big games.

That being said, the opportunity to attend yesterday’s NFC Championship Game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte was an experience second-to-none. Considering the winner received a bid to Super Bowl 50 (and I am a track guy), I couldn’t help but correlate it to being in the final heat at Olympic Trials in July vying for one of those three coveted spots. Each player was in pique condition and so psyched up for the game: trained, hydrated, rested, mentally prepared and focused; hours of tape on opponents had been watched by both teams. It all came down to who would “show up” more on Game Day.

FOX announcer booth getting the crowd hyped up

From the start, all of us Panther fans could tell our team was going for it. Just like in track, they went out hard and fast and did not look back. They took chances. They caused seven turnovers, Ted Ginn, Jr. crossed the entire width of the field from end-to-end in one route for six points while our quarterback Cam Newton scored two touchdowns by running the ball in himself—with one an actual front flip into the end zone. The Panthers have a goal of winning the Super Bowl—not just the NFC Championship, so to achieve this, they had to pummel their opponents yesterday. They were not content or complacent nor happy with just a win. They would have found a way to get it done no matter what! It inspired me.

The beautiful city of Charlotte with its snow post game

The Olympic Trials loom in July. The clock is ticking, but I do not want that to be a negative thing. My focus and resolve is true and I will be ready to achieve my bid to tow that line, Lord willing. Learning from these amazing powerhouse athletes at this level has given me just the kick in the bottom that I needed. See you on the track! Onward and upward.

We saw the Theodore Roosevelt In the Arena "Daring Greatly" quote on our walk to the game in uptown Charlotte