Columnist reflects on athletic career

By Adam Bagni
Collegian Staff
February 14, 2007

So there I was—standing in the middle of McCarthy Stadium, in the pouring rain, at midnight on a weekday, looking like an idiot.

When I first arrived, I thought to myself, “Why the hell was I the only one who didn’t know this flag football game was rained out?” Then I remembered slipping the previous week, which ultimately led to me getting torched on defense for a long touchdown.

Apparently, my punishment was standing out in this ungodly monsoon.

As I debated my next move, I noticed the men’s soccer team had left a ball under the bleachers (I doubt coach Pat Farrell would be happy). Considering that I was wearing my soccer cleats (further proof that intramurals at this University are often taken way too seriously), I figured I might as well kick a ball around for a little bit. After a few minutes of rusty juggling, some dribbling and maybe a half-dozen shots, I started reminiscing about the whole thing.

It’s been four years since I played competitive soccer, a career that ended after I captained my high school team, and it’s funny how just a few minutes of going through the motions can send old feelings rushing back.

These days, I miss everything about playing sports. Predictably, I miss competing most of all. Not so predictably, though, I also miss everything else that involves playing competitive athletics – running, lifting weights, working on fundamentals, practicing for four hours a day and all the other training regiments that become mundane when repeated day after day.

Thankfully, I’ve gotten over my initial “athletic withdrawal” that existed my freshman year. It was the first time in my life that I wasn’t active in sports, as opposed to my typical routine of one sport beginning as the last sport’s season concluded. However, as that night at McCarthy confirmed, I don’t think I’ll ever get over not playing in another game that truly “means something.” So here I am, like a lot of people who cover sports, writing about the games I loved.

Just from being around campus, I know that there are many former high school athletes who love to talk about the “good ol’ days” of their times participating in amateur athletics (no, I don’t consider college athletics amateur – but that’s a discussion for another day). Whether they realize it or not, I guess that’s why sports are so popular in this country.

We’re all longing for one final chance, one more shot, one last game.

bagnia1@lasalle.edu