The Birth Of A Champion
Look me in the eye
It's okay if you're scared,
So am I
But we're scared for different reasons
I'm scared of what I won't become,
And you're scared of what I could become
Look at me
I won't let myself end where I started,
I won't let myself finish where I began
I know what is within me,
Even if you can't see it yet
Look me in the eyes
I have something more important than courage,
I have patience
I will become
What I know I am
___________
The summer night air was warm against Octavius' sweat covered skin. He was alone, facing his lone basketball goal, as the moon watched from high above. At three o'clock in the morning, he was outside for only one reason, the same reason that brought him outside every night since the summer break from school started two weeks. To practice.
Even though he was only thirteen years old, he felt like he had to practice every chance he got to become the best. And the crazy thing with him was he didn't even want to be the best player out of everyone in the world, just the best player out of everyone that happened to be on the court with him at the same time.
He had it drilled into his head by then that that he was going to be someone great. There was no other option the way he saw it. And it all started in elementary school when he was bullied because his name was Octavius. Everyone else thought it was a stupid, weird name and they thought Octavius was the same thing, stupid and weird.
All the boys in his class exiled him from their group, and they enticed the other boys in their grade to do the same. It was nothing more than a game to them. See who could make Octavius mad first. And that feat was something none of them managed to do. Octavius was too calm natured, he would pass off their insults as if they were never said. He didn't care that they didn't want to hang out with him, he preferred to be by himself anyway.
But when his Dad found out about what was happening at Octavius' school, he was infuriated. Octavius remembered his father pacing around the house, running his hand through his slick, black hair and cursing in Spanish.
His father was a proud man and felt that the children had been not only disrespecting Octavius, but his family. Now, most people would say that the idea of that is utterly absurd and that the kids were just being kids. Well, Lionel Munez didn't see it that way. He felt like Americans resented Mexicans because some of them crossed the border illegally to get in the States. And Lionel hated that he got ugly looks from people whenever he went into a nice store. He hated the ignorance that some Americans held.
Octavius, like everyone else, thought his Dad had overreacted when he got Octavius to write all of his bullies names down on a piece of paper and Lionel attempted to sue all of their parents. He filed a one thousand dollar lost suit against each of the twenty parents, and somehow was able to walk away eight thousand dollars richer after everything was settled in court.
And even though Octavius didn't realize it until a few years later, Lionel did that to teach his son a lesson: Never let anyone take advantage of you just because you're quiet or little or whatever the case may be.
____________
Without the humidity of the South that was occasionally felt in Phoenix, Arizona, the air was light and fresh instead of the heavy, sticky feeling the humidity brought. And the wind was blowing, so the cool air against my face was refreshing as it met the sweat that now covered my entire body.
It was a little past three o'clock in the morning and I had already been outside for four hours now. The feeling of fatigue was something I hadn't felt at all the entire four hours, but it was starting to way down on my body as the morning passed by before my very eyes.
I let the orange, rough leather rub across my palm elegantly as I dribbled the ball and stepped away from the basket slowly. Once I was satisfied with my new position on the court, I looked down at the logo on the ball. Spalding. A close to legendary name when speaking about basketball. At times, it was what gave me the most hope. Just looking at the ball and seeing that NBA players used the same brand.
The closing of a door directly behind me brought me out of my thoughts and my eyes saw the body of my approaching father when I turned around. Seeing him sort of spooked me at first because I thought he was angry that I was awake, but when his face came into view. I was shocked to see a smile in the place of where I thought a frown would be.
"Why are you still awake man," He asked me as he ruffled up my short mohawk, still smiling.
"Couldn't sleep," I lied as I looked up at his face as he chuckled.
"You can't honestly expect me to believe that, can you?"
"Worth a try," I mumbled, chuckling myself as well. "True that," He agreed. "But you know we gotta be in Tuscon by eleven for 'Zona's camp."
"I know, but I can get a z's in the house. Then if I'm still tired, I have two hours to sleep in the car," I stated.
"Guess you got this all figured out huh? But it's fine with me if you want to be exhausted your first day at the camp."
"I won't be exhausted. Maybe a little tired, but I'll be fine."
My Dad smiled at my confidence. "I know you'll be fine. You'll be more than fine. All because you're a Munez. And you know, I wouldn't be able to be angry at you if you practice all night, Octavius."
"Really," I questioned ecstatically.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean do it," He said sternly. "And it's because I see the warrior you are deep within. I can see it in your eyes and so can everyone else. That's why some people may try to hold you down in life, but the ones that do that are scared of what you're able to do. They wish they could be like you."
I stared into my Dad's eyes in awe of what he had just told me. I honestly couldn't understand why he believed in me so much, but I didn't ask, in fear of the answer. Instead, I continued to listen to what he had to say.
"You and everyone else in your generation have an upper hand over the generation before you. You guys are able to watch the stars of that generation and all those before it. And that gives you all the chance to learn from them. Meaning, you get a larger library of the game. New tricks, new ways to create your own shot, new ways to dribble, new techniques to win, etc. But everyone in your generation has the same resources you have. Those are the guys you're going to have to face on the court, so be prepared Octavius. Think of every game as a battle in the effort to win the war of winning the championship, and prepare for each battle as if you're life depends on it. Play with your entire heart, not just some of it or half of it."
Still in awe of what he had heard, this almost sent his little mind over the edge. All I was able to say was, "Yes sir."
"Now let's go in the house and get some sleep, okay?"
I nodded my head and followed my Dad into the house. All the while trying to fully plan what I was going to have to do to become what he thought I could be. A prolific basketball player.
Look me in the eye
It's okay if you're scared,
So am I
But we're scared for different reasons
I'm scared of what I won't become,
And you're scared of what I could become
Look at me
I won't let myself end where I started,
I won't let myself finish where I began
I know what is within me,
Even if you can't see it yet
Look me in the eyes
I have something more important than courage,
I have patience
I will become
What I know I am
___________
The summer night air was warm against Octavius' sweat covered skin. He was alone, facing his lone basketball goal, as the moon watched from high above. At three o'clock in the morning, he was outside for only one reason, the same reason that brought him outside every night since the summer break from school started two weeks. To practice.
Even though he was only thirteen years old, he felt like he had to practice every chance he got to become the best. And the crazy thing with him was he didn't even want to be the best player out of everyone in the world, just the best player out of everyone that happened to be on the court with him at the same time.
He had it drilled into his head by then that that he was going to be someone great. There was no other option the way he saw it. And it all started in elementary school when he was bullied because his name was Octavius. Everyone else thought it was a stupid, weird name and they thought Octavius was the same thing, stupid and weird.
All the boys in his class exiled him from their group, and they enticed the other boys in their grade to do the same. It was nothing more than a game to them. See who could make Octavius mad first. And that feat was something none of them managed to do. Octavius was too calm natured, he would pass off their insults as if they were never said. He didn't care that they didn't want to hang out with him, he preferred to be by himself anyway.
But when his Dad found out about what was happening at Octavius' school, he was infuriated. Octavius remembered his father pacing around the house, running his hand through his slick, black hair and cursing in Spanish.
His father was a proud man and felt that the children had been not only disrespecting Octavius, but his family. Now, most people would say that the idea of that is utterly absurd and that the kids were just being kids. Well, Lionel Munez didn't see it that way. He felt like Americans resented Mexicans because some of them crossed the border illegally to get in the States. And Lionel hated that he got ugly looks from people whenever he went into a nice store. He hated the ignorance that some Americans held.
Octavius, like everyone else, thought his Dad had overreacted when he got Octavius to write all of his bullies names down on a piece of paper and Lionel attempted to sue all of their parents. He filed a one thousand dollar lost suit against each of the twenty parents, and somehow was able to walk away eight thousand dollars richer after everything was settled in court.
And even though Octavius didn't realize it until a few years later, Lionel did that to teach his son a lesson: Never let anyone take advantage of you just because you're quiet or little or whatever the case may be.
____________
Without the humidity of the South that was occasionally felt in Phoenix, Arizona, the air was light and fresh instead of the heavy, sticky feeling the humidity brought. And the wind was blowing, so the cool air against my face was refreshing as it met the sweat that now covered my entire body.
It was a little past three o'clock in the morning and I had already been outside for four hours now. The feeling of fatigue was something I hadn't felt at all the entire four hours, but it was starting to way down on my body as the morning passed by before my very eyes.
I let the orange, rough leather rub across my palm elegantly as I dribbled the ball and stepped away from the basket slowly. Once I was satisfied with my new position on the court, I looked down at the logo on the ball. Spalding. A close to legendary name when speaking about basketball. At times, it was what gave me the most hope. Just looking at the ball and seeing that NBA players used the same brand.
The closing of a door directly behind me brought me out of my thoughts and my eyes saw the body of my approaching father when I turned around. Seeing him sort of spooked me at first because I thought he was angry that I was awake, but when his face came into view. I was shocked to see a smile in the place of where I thought a frown would be.
"Why are you still awake man," He asked me as he ruffled up my short mohawk, still smiling.
"Couldn't sleep," I lied as I looked up at his face as he chuckled.
"You can't honestly expect me to believe that, can you?"
"Worth a try," I mumbled, chuckling myself as well. "True that," He agreed. "But you know we gotta be in Tuscon by eleven for 'Zona's camp."
"I know, but I can get a z's in the house. Then if I'm still tired, I have two hours to sleep in the car," I stated.
"Guess you got this all figured out huh? But it's fine with me if you want to be exhausted your first day at the camp."
"I won't be exhausted. Maybe a little tired, but I'll be fine."
My Dad smiled at my confidence. "I know you'll be fine. You'll be more than fine. All because you're a Munez. And you know, I wouldn't be able to be angry at you if you practice all night, Octavius."
"Really," I questioned ecstatically.
"Yes, but that doesn't mean do it," He said sternly. "And it's because I see the warrior you are deep within. I can see it in your eyes and so can everyone else. That's why some people may try to hold you down in life, but the ones that do that are scared of what you're able to do. They wish they could be like you."
I stared into my Dad's eyes in awe of what he had just told me. I honestly couldn't understand why he believed in me so much, but I didn't ask, in fear of the answer. Instead, I continued to listen to what he had to say.
"You and everyone else in your generation have an upper hand over the generation before you. You guys are able to watch the stars of that generation and all those before it. And that gives you all the chance to learn from them. Meaning, you get a larger library of the game. New tricks, new ways to create your own shot, new ways to dribble, new techniques to win, etc. But everyone in your generation has the same resources you have. Those are the guys you're going to have to face on the court, so be prepared Octavius. Think of every game as a battle in the effort to win the war of winning the championship, and prepare for each battle as if you're life depends on it. Play with your entire heart, not just some of it or half of it."
Still in awe of what he had heard, this almost sent his little mind over the edge. All I was able to say was, "Yes sir."
"Now let's go in the house and get some sleep, okay?"
I nodded my head and followed my Dad into the house. All the while trying to fully plan what I was going to have to do to become what he thought I could be. A prolific basketball player.
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