Sunday afternoon represented the first meeting / football practice of the season. I think the temperature was hovering around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool air combined with air movement that weather reporters would likely describe as "blustery winds" in the 20 to 30 miles per hour range. The grass was still damp from the previous nights rain showers. The sun failed to peek out through the clouds. A couple dozen guys, ranging in age from 20 to 30, jogged in place attempting to stay warm while tossing around the football on a cool April afternoon. Sounds pretty flowery huh? Ok, let me try again... It was cold out. Darn cold. Nobody stopped moving for fear they would freeze. We ran drills and focused on basics for about an hour. Then, we retreated to a warm classroom for news and notes.

The coach said a few things that really resounded with me. "You are not going to play in front of 1,000 fans. You are not going to make any money. The only reason you should be in this room is because you love football."

There are parallels between semi-pro football and indy wrestling. In both football and wrestling, danger is inherent. In both football and wrestling, injuries are frequent. WWE and the NFL pack thousands upon thousands of people into each event. Indy wrestling and semi-pro football events do not often see more than a hundred fans. WWE wrestlers and NFL players earn comfortable livings into the hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars for their efforts. Indy wrestlers (there are a few exceptions) and semi-pro football players do not earn a four digit income for their efforts. The NFL and WWE are full of people living out their childhood dreams. Indy wrestling and semi-pro football are full of people clinging to childhood dreams.

It takes dedication, work ethic, and nerves of steel to play in the NFL or step through a WWE curtain. You must have broad shoulders. NFL players and WWE wrestlers are placed under a giant microscope. The masses cheer and groan with each player's / wrestler's movement. Only the best of the best play on these playgrounds.

What compels a grown man or woman to step in the squared circle in front of 30 fans at the local American Legion? Why would a grown man, nearing 30 years old, with a wife and children, give up part or all of his weekend to wear a pair of tights and "pretend" fight with another guy similarly dressed in front of complete strangers? Why would a grown man nearing 30 years old, give up part or all of his weekend to play a game of football in front of friends and family? It sounds ridiculous doesn't it? Why would anyone do this?

Why?
Heart. Love of the game.

It takes HEART to drive to a Bingo Hall, sacrificing your body for a few dozen strangers. It takes HEART to suffer through using a 10-foot by 10-foot women's restroom as a locker room for 20 wrestlers. It takes HEART to spend hours in the car driving to an event when your match will last less than 10-minutes. It takes HEART to put your body on the line in the squared circle. It takes HEART to accept that you will not earn enough wrestling to pay for your gas or food on the way home. It takes HEART to push forward and do it again the following weekend.

For the past 3 years I drove up and down the highways and back roads to every wrestling show I could find. I wasn't searching for money, fame, or glory. I was living a dream. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the fans that have been part of my dream.

Yardbird.