Emma Keeling – Contributor
In honor of National Signing Day on February 3rd, I wanted to take some time to write about a few influential sports memoirs relating to all different kinds of sports. Signing day for student athletes starts on February 3rd and goes all the way until August 1st this year, 2021. This time is crucial for those deciding where they intend to go to school and play their sport of choice. As a high schooler, signing day can be exciting, nerve-racking, and even a little scary, as you’re essentially signing up for what you want to do for the next few years of your life. With that being said, it can be relieving to know that, while every person’s story is unique, a student-athlete isn’t alone in feeling nervous or having doubts about their decisions.
A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio – Running
There’s probably a stereotype that comes to mind when you think of a long-distance female runner – thin, fit, hard. But that is certainly not the case for ultramarathoner Mirna Valerio. She started her running career when she joined her schools field hockey team and sort of fell in love with it, despite that facts that she was deemed “nerdy” in school and was always seen as a plus-sized girl. However, things like school, a job, marriage, and eventually a child made her a quite busy. She eventually gained even more weight and started having some health issues. When a sudden anxiety attack opens her eyes to what her health means for her child, she realizes she needs to whip herself into shape – and she does just that by running. This is the perfect memoir for someone who is doubting themselves and their abilities. It is especially intended to make readers understand that no matter what they look like or what gets in the way, a passion for a sport isn’t something that should be easily suppressed.
A False Spring by Pat Jordan – Baseball
Pat Jordan spent his time from 1959-1961 as a bonus baby prospect in the minor leagues Milwaukee Brave organization. While his time in the minor leagues was quite short and unfulfilling to what Jordan had wanted for his baseball career, A False Spring tells the story of how managers and coaches at the time were unhelpful to their players, most of the time doing as little work as possible. Pat was actually a really good pitcher; however, like many pitchers, he wasn’t consistent. This inconsistency led to coaches putting him on the back-burner and not putting forth the effort to work with him and make him better. While this story doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, I felt it was important to highlight because it shows how players need to keep a straightforward mind and look out for themselves when choosing a college or institution to play for. It makes people ask the hard questions like, “What will this decision do for me in the long run?” or “Will I get the attention I need and deserve by attending this school?” These are the questions that will matter in the long run.
Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood by Jeffrey Marx – Football
Jeffrey Marx was a ball boy for the Baltimore Colts when he first met Joe Ehrmann, the coach. A former NFL football star himself, Ehrmann is now an ordained minister and volunteer coach for the Gilman High School football team with a unique story to tell. Ehrmann isn’t like a typical coach – he teaches his players new meanings of the words masculinity, leadership, and empathy. After many years, Marx meets up with Ehrmann again and sees how his own childhood hero is helping so many young men in the sports program he runs. In this winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Season of Life aims to shed light on how being a good person, accepting responsibility, and forming meaningful relationships cannot only take you further as an athlete, but also as person.
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