My Next Chapter
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You Heard It Here Last
“This fall, I’m going to take my talents to South Beach.”
With this infamous statement broadcast live to the whole world, LeBron James changed the course of basketball history.
Kevin Durant did the same thing in the summer of 2016 when he wrote to the Players’ Tribune on his decision to join Golden State.
Cristiano Ronaldo did it last year in European soccer, Bryce Harper did it this MLB offseason and even Peyton Manning did it in 2012 in the NFL (albeit under different circumstances.)
Even the biggest stars need a change of scenery every once in a while and even at the highest level, change is often inevitable.
At least personally, this realization has been somewhat reassuring as we wind down towards the end of another school year; what for many will be our last.
Gone will be the days of intramurals every night, late-night basketball, recurring conversations with friends about the crazy thing that happened last night in sports and waiting all day to listen to Roger Stern’s chants during timeouts.
And at least for me, all of these things will be dearly missed.
But in their place will be an evening softball league started by a coworker, rec-center basketball, recurring conversations with friends about the crazy thing that happened last night in sports and—eventually—waiting all day to listen to that crazy fan at our kids’ sports games that provides quality entertainment we’d pay to see.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, change is inevitable. But often times things end up being not all that different after all. Basketball players still play basketball, baseball players still play baseball and fans are still fans.
College has been a great ride. And for those of you who have more years here, enjoy them. Everyone has probably already told you , but it’s easy to get lost in homework and tests and due dates.
So if you didn’t take it from them, take it from me, the last person you typically hear things from anyway; enjoy every late night, every intramural game, every video game tournament and yes, even the schooling.
Because these constants will someday pass by, and you might not notice until they’re gone.
Ben Franklin said only two things in life are certain, death and taxes. I’d be willing to venture that he’s wrong, that there’s a third. There will always be one other constant in my life: sports. And for them I’m eternally grateful.
Tyler Dean is a senior studying finance and math.