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AFM Magazine


Letter From the Editor

Words to live by ...
by: Aaron S. Lee
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The sign above the Marshall High School (Texas) weight room door reads: “If you can force your heart, mind and body to serve you long after they are gone, and you can hold on when there is nothing left within you except the will that’s says to then hold on – then you will be a man.”

Those words are paraphrased from one of history’s greatest poems. Now, I’m not sure why poet Rudyard Kipling wrote those words, but I can only assume he did so while watching the Marshall Mavericks play football on a cool, breezy autumn Friday night, with the game on the line and pride in their hearts. For those of you not familiar with Kipling’s work entitled “If” ... please allow me the opportunity to share it:

If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired from waiting, or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, or being hated, don’t give way to hating, and yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor loose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!


As many of you already know, I was the sports editor for the Marshall News Messenger in Marshall, Texas, a few years back, and one event really stands out in my mind regarding my experiences there.

Now, I have been involved with football since my early childhood, and I make no secret that it is without a doubt my favorite sport. And due to my love of the game – and unfortunate Type A personality – I was reduced to an emotional wreck on Friday, Oct. 7, 2001, during the Mavs’ 45-31 loss to the defending Texas 4A state champ, Ennis.

My job requires an unbiased approach to all things in order to be considered a professional journalist. Well then, I guess that would make me a hack.

With the Mavericks on an 87-yard scoring drive to pull within seven with only minutes remaining in the fourth, I let my feelings take over. Unfortunately, that would be as close as Marshall would be all night.

However, the Mavs never quit fighting. Their character and heart made them – forced them – to keep playing until time ran out, even though they trailed by 21 points with time escaping them.

I learned something from a Marshall touchdown pass with only 19 seconds remaining and the game out of reach. I learned something from seeing then-Marshall head coach Bill Harper stand outside the field house doors shortly after a heartbreaking loss talking with fans, parents and media just as he would after a victory – even though I would probably rather run and hide. And I learned something from my actions during that emotional football game.

Class is more than eating etiquette and black tie affairs. It is character and pride, and knowing what to do with it.

And if I can live my life and learn from those that teach, then maybe I can be like Coach Harper, the Marshall High School football team and anyone else that lives their life based on the words hanging on a sign above a weight room door.

Respectfully,

Aaron S. Lee
Managing Editor
American Football Monthly
aslee@lcclark.com





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