During her lecture dealing with discrimination in sports on April 1, syndicated columnist and author Mariah Burton Nelson asked the audience “how many of you here are athletes?”

Of the half-filled University Ballroom, about six or seven hands shot up, and what Nelson saw was a small cross section of athletes that play a sport at Sac State. These athletes raised their hands high in pride, and there wasn?t any hesitation in doing so. Then Nelson asked how many people there played a sport recreationally, was a member at a gym, or participated in other physical activity. Most every hand in the room eventually, with some hesitation, went into the air.

The question is: Why didn?t they raise up their hand when asked if they were an athlete?

Nelson suggested that anybody who, in some way, uses his or her body in some athletic way, should not sell him or herself short. She said that they too are athletes, and she?s right.For some reason or another, people who don?t participate in an organized league, or only exercise to stay in shape don?t consider themselves athletes.

Why not?

To be an athlete, does it mean that a person must possess the certain traits that make them a) big enough to guard Arinze Anouro in the post, b) fast enough to juke Anthony Daisley in the open field, c) have quick enough reflexes to react to a Nicole Deatherage changeup in an 0-2 count, or d) have a 95 mph fastball that would buckle Aurelio Jackson at the knees?

Absolutely not!

Every person has been given a set of limits. Those limits can be hindering, or they can be worked within to eventually bring out the best of an individual?s physical ability. The limits for each person are at varied heights, and they can often stick out like John Goodman at the salad bar, but they also fuel competitive fire and are the foundation of what eventually leads to a goal.

Isn?t that what an athlete does? Compete at the highest level that they fundamentally can, and create new goals with each step along the way?

One does not have to compete at the highest level to be considered competitive. One does not have to be athletic to be an athlete.

Weightlifters, whether for competition or personal fitness goals, are athletes. Bike riders, whether for trophies or for personal enjoyment, are athletes. Runners, beer league softball players, snowboarders, rollerbladers, racquetball junkies, and anybody else who finds a way to improve themselves, their physical coordination and their competitive spirit are athletes. It doesn?t matter why they do it, it only matters that they do it. It only matters that they strive toward being the best that they can, and even if it?s not as good as somebody else, they keep going.

Hard work, dedication, and persistence are what make an athlete. Everybody goes through the times when they want to quit, but an athlete doesn?t give up. A love for the game, and the desire to improve will belittle the obstacles that stand in the way. Exercise for the body, and that voice in your head that tells you to play, overrule the idea that only the elite can be the athletic representatives of society.

And wouldn?t you know it? All who participate, competitive or not, will chime in with a resounding and universal reason for why they spend their time, sweat, and tears in the sporting arena: Fun.

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