Monday, July 9, 2007
So it's finally sinking in. Less than 2 weeks to go and suddenly here I am with checks from sponsors rolling in, friends flying in to train, and hella sore legs from the killer workout we've been given to help us stand up against the kiwis. Suddenly, I'm realizing that in a few short days I'm going to be arriving in a place I've dreamed about since I was a kid. And I won't be on any ordinary vacation, either. How many people get to say that they've visited three different countries and both hemispheres to represent their country in anything, let alone the greatest sport on the planet!?! Sure, this isn't the end of the road. My ultimate dream is to play in the next world cup as a REAL Eagle, but for now, I'm definitely stoked about this! It's the trip of a lifetime, and even though I'm sure it will be cold, and wet, and at times damn near miserable - I can't think of a better way to spend my time.
When I think about where I started, it's pretty amazing really. Watching those old tapes of my first games partly makes me cringe, and partly makes me smile. I was just a crazy tiny kid who thought it was awesome that I'd found a sport where I actually got to hit people! And then all of the sudden somebody thought I was good, somebody else thought I had potential, and then, well...I started to believe it. I worked harder, trained harder, and then the competition got harder. Where I had been so confident as a newcomer, I learned to question myself instead. There were so many good players, so many talented athletes....and I was, well....I didn't think I was all that special. But I kept working anyways, and somehow I've made it here. There are so many things in my life that I've worked really hard to achieve, but very few actual achievements. Rugby has given me that one thing that I can truly be proud of. No matter what happens later on in my life, I'll always have these trips, and these friends, and these memories. Unlike so many other things, it's not about money, or fame, or titles, or anything else...it's just about the journey and the experience, and that's what makes this game so special.
I'll most likely be keeping tabs on this particular part of my journey via this blog....so stay tuned for the goings-on of myself and the U23 National Team as we journey to the south pacific for a taste of real rugby country.........
