A real passion

ROWERS :

Are the strongest fastest and smartest athletes in the world. But that’s not what makes them unique. They are the MOST dedicated people in the world. They sacrifice their lives to a sport of fighting. Where practice is 3 hours of pulling and driving and sweating. 3 hours of a literal fight. 

They give up there social lives. They cant party and get drunk because getting up for practice at 6 am on Saturday won’t allow it. They cant go smoke after school cause they worked too damn hard to get into shape. They have no substitutes out on the bench to help get past an opponent. They sit on the river with all eyes on them, alone, no one to fall back on when they make a mistake, no safety to make the tackle, and no goaly to make a diving save. 

They are the leanest meanest and strongest in the world. Guys want them, GUYS want to be just like them. So this is a tribute to all those who sacrifice everything, their free time, and most importantly their life. Why would someone work so hard? Or why would they induce the blood, sweat, and tears? Or the early morning runs, or mid day workouts or the extra erg after practice. 

The road in rowing always ends in tears. The team that takes second crys cause their dreams are over, and the team that wins it all crys more than anybody because finally everything that they have worked on is finally worth while. Rowers will row  through anything because they are friggin’ rowers. And greatness walks right with the word rower. 

I salute all who commit there life to something greater, something bigger than themselves. Rowers don’t row  because they like it, you would be crazy to like to beat yourself up on a daily basis, and get beaten up by teammates and opponents just as much. Yet there are the few who love it, they do it cause they were born to. These select people I applaud. There is no future in rowing, no pro league, no million dollar contract. Just a smelly erg room and a dream to be great. 

Rowing is not a sport, its a lifestyle.