The ups and downs of high school sports

As I drove to work Monday morning, I went by Contractors Stadium and saw the St. Paul football team on the field. It was the first day of official practice and it brought back lots of memories. Memories of those days at Stevenson High School in Livonia, Mich. I will say it right now — I hated practice. After a week of conditioning, we put on the pads and had three practices a day. And every practice included conditioning and up-downs. I figure my three years in high school I did thousands and thousands of up-downs. I didn't like them then and I don't even like taking about them. And when we were done doing up-downs we would hit the sled. We drove that seven-man sled miles in my three years on the team. In the famous words of Allen Iverson, "We talkin about practice! Not a game." Everybody loves to play on game night. Turn on the lights and fill the stands. For a couple of hours a week you have the chance to be a hero. That's what it is all about in all sports. As the football players are on the field this week, there are a thousands of other athletes around the area getting ready for the fall season. The volleyball players are in the gym getting ready. The cross country runners, golfers, girls' tennis players and soccer teams are working hard. There are no shortcuts. There are no easy ways out. When we go to watch the athletes on game day, all we see is what happens on the field or court. We don't see what goes into game day. We don't see the blood, sweat and tears that go into it. And when we see the band come out and perform at halftime, we don't see all of the work they put in to get ready. And don't forget the cheerleaders and members of the flag corps. Nothing is easy. It is work and we should all appreciate everything these young people do. It's tough being a sports fan these days. Browns fans have been bombarded by talk of Deshaun Watson for months. The ruling finally came out that he would be suspended for six games, but there could be an appeal by the National Football League. That would only drag it out longer. The big news for local college fans this off season was the announcement UCLA and USC were joining the Big 10. Really. When I was at Michigan State some 40-plus years ago it really was a Big 10. That was before Penn State and Nebraska then Rutgers and Maryland. Now UCLA and USC. The league, all 16 teams, covers the U.S. from the East Coast to the West Coast with the one obvious team — Notre Dame — still out there looking for a dance partner. It is so much to handle. That's why I think high school sports are still the best. There are problems. Nothing is perfect. But I think there is nothing better than being at a football game on Friday or Saturday night, in a gym watching volleyball or out and about watching soccer, cross country or girls' tennis. When you are sitting there watching your son or daughter or any high school athlete competing, just remember they are doing it for the love of the sport. The coaches are not there to get rich but to teach these young athletes to be better people. I remember all of those up-downs and how much I hated them. But I know all of that work made me a better person — something that sticks with me to this day. If you get the chance, thank a coach or an official for the time they put in working with these student-athletes. Thank a teacher, principal or superintendent for the work they do. These young people are the future of our country and the lessons they learn on the field, court and in the classroom will stick with them forever. Now give me an up-down! Just kidding. Joe Centers if Reflector community editor. He can be reached at jcenters@norwalkreflector.com.