The All-WhighamTeam: Epilogue
Written by twhigham, Saturday July 17 2010
Last season I was fortunate enough to interview some of the most inspirational, strong, determined, and ambitious women in the United States. From that experience, I can honestly say that I learned more in those six months about human beings than I have in any other point in my life.
If you've been following my articles, you'll know that I created the "All-Whigham Team" as a way to highlight particular players on LFL teams that represented a particular aspect of the concept of "sport". My goal was simple: find the story that needs to be told; like the one about the player that gives her all and still winds up on the losing side of the competition. Winners get tagged as the MVP. The loser gets nothing, even though she worked just as hard.
She juggled a job, school, family, and housework for the chance to play. She drove five hours for a try-out. She crossed two counties to get to practice three times a week.
And on game day she wore a uniform that was woefully unsuitable for the rigors of football competition, because that's the only way she could get you to watch.
She took her shot.
And she lost.
Life is a lot like that, too.
Everyone loses something at some point in their lives. Jobs are lost every day. People can lose their homes, their spouses, and their children. Eventually everyone loses their parents, and sometimes parents can lose their children. People can lose a lot of very important things; things that hurt when they're gone.
It's part of the game of life.
And if you watch the game of football long enough, you'll learn some of life's lessons.
Here are the players that will teach them to you.
Compete - Anonymous, Denver
Get Inspired - Jamie Diamonds, Philadelphia
Have Strength of Character - Emanda Doscher, Tampa
Get Back Up - Monique Gaxiola, Los Angeles
Work Hard - Brandyce Trowell, Tampa
Know The Science - Erika Trujillo, Denver
Be Determined - Teresa Brewer, Seattle
Persevere - Krystal Gray, New York
Learn - Nikki Lee, Chicago
Be Mentally Strong - Gabrielle Marie, Dallas
Be Ambitious - Tina Caccavalle, Miami
Control - Kiera Massette Somers, New York
Contact - Kerry Warren, Seattle
Get Crazy - Jennifer Adkison Langston
Genetics - Cheryl Fairweather, Philadelphia
Constantly Improve Yourself - Natasha Lindsay, Seattle
Know the Value of Equality - Heather Perez, Philadelphia
Try - Mea Angelini, Orlando
Recover - Lisa Meneely, San Diego
Push - Denisha Crawford, Tampa
Lead - Samantha Allen Smith, Baltimore
Change - Carol King, Baltimore (not yet published)
And some direct quotes, from two players who lost every single game they played, lost their coaches, and even lost their entire team. They learned some lessons the hard way.
"You can't let that 0 bring you down." -- Angela Perfetto, New York
"Never give up; everything happens for a reason." -- Tanyka Renee, New York
I've been asked why I chose to write about the LFL; about the players.
The simple answer is that I was bored at work. The complicated answer is that it gave me the opportunity to share my knowledge - along with the knowledge of every player I interviewed - with others.
As each player opened herself to me, I gained a new perspective on life through her eyes. I consider myself blessed to have the players trust me enough to tell their story, who were open and honest with me and shared their happiness, sorrow, and frustrations with me.
That is something I will take with me forever.
And now I'm going to reciprocate.
After writing some pieces on PlayerPress.Com I was given the opportunity to write for the official LFL blog. So I did. For about 5 months. That's when my publisher lost his affiliation with the league, and I lost my role as an official contributing writer to the LFL.
And that job I was bored with? I lost it, too.
Talk about sorrow and frustration.
I was low.
I felt like I had no purpose. No real reason to be. Emotionally, I was a wreck.
I found another job 78 resumes, 11 interviews, and 4 months later; working for a non-profit organization that coordinates services for at-risk youth.
I think I might be able to teach them a few things. But, if I can't, I know a league full of women that can.
I'm still digging myself out of the hole I found myself in. But I'm taking it for what it is; a learning experience.
Because you can't let that 0 get you down. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to get back up, be determined, work hard, push, and persevere. You have to keep in control, make contact, be mentally strong, and be ambitious. Get inspired, compete for what you want, push yourself, and learn. And when you feel overwhelmed, go a little crazy and have fun.
Sound familiar?
I've had good teachers. That's why they're on the All-Whigham Team.
Thank you, ladies, for being special.
Long live sport.
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