Monday, June 8, 2015

A Team Sport

As I'm sure you know, the horse American Pharoah won the Triple Crown on Saturday evening - a title not bestowed for 37 years.

As I'm sure you know, the jockey Victor Espinoza won the Triple Crown on Saturday evening - a title not bestowed for 37 years.

As I'm sure you know, the trainer Bob Baffert won the Triple Crown on Saturday evening - a title not bestowed for 37 years.

As I'm sure you know, the owner Ahmed Zayat won the Triple Crown on Saturday evening - a title not bestowed for 37 years.

... And I think you know where I'm going with this.

Many people shared in the victory on Saturday - a team, if you will. One could not have done it without the others. Unfortunately, I found myself stuck in the "well, who is the real winner?" cycle after the three minute race, but fortunately, I was able to pull myself out. They are all winners. It was a team effort.

Giphy/Tumblr

I think in a lot of cases, our accomplishments are team efforts. I know for a fact I could not have completed and succeeded in all of the races I've run without the support of my family and friends, without the guidance of online training resources, or without God's power and mercy. I could not have graduated college without superb professors or aid - both financially and emotionally - from my parents.

I like to think of myself as self-sufficient, but then I laugh. I can't even do my own taxes.

We were made to be in a community together. Just like American Pharoah could not have won without a rider who could not have ridden without the horse being taught by a trainer who could not have worked without being employed by an owner who could not have owned anything without a horse, we all count on someone for something. Bit of a run-on sentence, but whatever.

One final comment: The longest horse race in the triple crown is a mile and a half. When are they going to run 26.2?

4 comments:

  1. Such an incredible race. When I was watching I was totally tearing up at the end!

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    1. My mom and I were screaming at the top of our lungs. It was a mix of "HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT! ... HE'S GOING TO DO IT! ... NO WAIT, I DON'T KNOW! ... OMG HE DID IT!"

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  2. Such a great point! It's easy to forget all of those people who work so hard behind the scenes. My friend's dad is a jockey and you really don't realize how hard they work too!

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    1. That would be such an awesome job! I can't imagine having to keep my balance and grip on something going at that speed! Especially a something that has its own mind - not like a racecar, but something that can turn without you telling it to if it wants!

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