Out of My Mind | Kudos on a job well done

Over the past two weeks, students and adults have flocked to the Blackhawk basketball games watching the high school players compete in district, regional and state tournaments. They’ve yelled and cheered on their team and congratulated them on their wins.

Watching as a boy takes a ball in his hands, stands at the free throw line and prepares to shoot, I think of all the pressure on those young shoulders. Some boys are nervous, others appear calm. Sometimes the ball goes through the hoop, other times it does not.

Regardless of a particular preference for hobbies, whether you like sports or not, whether you like basketball or not, the enthusiasm is contagious.

Taught properly, sports can help young people learn about life - that’s a lesson Kevin and Ronda Hall said they tried to impart over nine years leading Youth Competitive Basketball. And, it’s apparently caught onbecause some of their former athletes have chosen to pass on the lessons and help those younger than themselves.

Some say it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.

Obviously it feels better to win, but truly, with perspective, it is better to play well, do your best and know that you’ve played honestly even when you lose.

Life’s not fair. We will all face less than pleasant circumstances in life even when we do our best. We can learn that young and avoid some of the bitterness that plagues others when they lose something they value.

Although the Blackhawks lost to Jonesboro Westside, they were winners in that they played honestly, gave it their best and made it to state. How many high school teams in Arkansas did not even get to the regional tournament, much less state?

Job well done, guys.

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Editor’s note: Annette Beard is the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. A native of Louisiana, she moved to this area in 1980.

She has nine children, one grandson and another grandson due in April. She can be reached at [email protected].

Opinion, Pages 4 on 03/09/2011