The Pampered Boys!

There is this child that’s born after significant delays; the parents opting for medical and spiritual solutions so as to be blessed with one and eventually getting one. The Boy (more often) is showered with attention, pampered by parents and both set of grandparents and from the onset becomes the center of attraction. His demands and his wishes are fulfilled; from food, clothes to toys, you name it. He never learns to take a no for an answer because he knows that he need not to.

This goes on and on until one day he has to walk out of the comforts of his home and into the open world where no one gives a damn about his tantrums. He has to deal with the reality that the world as it used to, does not revolve around him any longer. This is where most boys break. They simply don’t have it in their system to be on the periphery. Their need to constantly be the star and their expectation that the rest of the world shall feed their ego is shattered.  

This becomes a critical juncture and from here onward three pathways exist. First the boy breaks down and lives his rest of the life contemplating what happened, never really happy with his predicament but living a quiet life in his small corner. Second the boy questions his past, admits his position, evolves and works his way to reconstruct a meaningful life. There is this third possibility, that despite reality staring in his face the boy continues to behave the way he is used to and makes life uncomfortable for himself and those around him.  

It is rare that the drama around the sport steals the limelight and becomes more engrossing than the sport itself. Of course, it is sad and that should never be the case but that is what is happening and for everyone to see. The pampered boys are throwing tantrums and unwilling to come to terms with reality, making life difficult for themselves and those around. Sport is a reflection of life and it is always better that we learn from what happens on the field. However, if on a rare day, better life lessons emerge from the dressing room, then those too should be reflected upon.

We are all pampered boys (and girls) in our own ways, aren’t we? Hungry for attention and doing our pathetic little effort to stay relevant and exert gravity to the best of our ability. Can we learn from what we are witnessing and course correct? Or are we simply going to ruin everything? The sport and our life will reflect our choices, we shall see…