My Two Cents: An Admission

"You don't want to be just a fan. You want to be a player."

I heard this as soon as I had tuned in to the first round of the World Cup games.

"When you arrive at the stadium... you don't want to be just a fan. You want to be a player."

World Cup 2006 is on and the sports announcer was describing his initial feeling; the feeling that he got when he finally arrived at the game. His statement resonates with me because it stems from his passion and love for the game.

Recently I was talking to my friend John about Morningside Heights, the New York City neighborhood where I grew up.

I have lot of memories, mostly great ones, of Morningside and my childhood experiences there.

I described the beauty of the area and how Columbia University's college campus was like our backyard. I told him about the college students and the events that took place on campus during that period. I shared with him about my basketball battle grounds and how I reveled in them. I talked about the rich traditions of both my grade school and my high school.

I was sharing all of this when it occurred to me that my passion and my appreciation for Morningside Heights and the way that I grew up was as a result of the fact that -

I played. I really played.

As a kid, when I got home to Morningside I didn't want to just sit back and admire the neighborhood from my window. I didn't want to be just a fan. I wanted to go out and play.

Often in life, we'll find ourselves admiring and being in awe when what we really want to do is get in on the action. It is easy to sit back and become a mere observer, cheering another guy on when,

to be on the court would be so much better.

Are you running the risk of reducing your own journey to a stint in the stands?

Which I guess is alright unless the game calls to you like soccer or football calls to that announcer or like -

Morningside Heights called to me.

Never be just a fan if what is really in your heart is --

TO PLAY.

That's my two cents (for whatever it's worth),

Auguste Roc
auguste@danaroc.com