Winning Isn’t Everything

All of my life, I have heard the quote, “Winning isn’t everything…it’s the only thing.”

This year, Jack’s high school varsity soccer team was amazing and had a fantastic record. These kids are insanely talented and had an impressive season.

They were the most unified team I have ever seen. Most of the boys dyed their hair blonde. It was a beautiful gesture of unity and the ‘Kens’ became an instant family.

Unfortunately, they lost during the semi-finals of sectionals after three brutal rounds of penalties.

When they lost, the kids who had taken the penalties all collapsed to the ground. It was heartbreaking to watch, especially for the senior boys who had put their cleats on for their home turf, for the very last time.

Just two weeks prior, their celebration after winning 1-0 in the Morris County semi-final, was the happiest I have ever seen so many teenage boys and their parents.

Some of my closest friends are also soccer moms. There are very few things in the world that make me happier than sitting on the bleachers with them on a beautiful fall day and watching our boys play the sport we all love.

Their joy is our joy and their sadness is devastating.

These boys put their hearts and souls into the game. They get up early in the summer to train and sacrifice so much to be better. They spend hundreds of hours practicing, scrimmaging and studying film.

They love soccer above all else and losing is hard. Watching a group of teenage boys hug each other through tears may be the most touching thing I have seen in a long time.

The tears aren’t just for the final loss. They’re for the blood, sweat and tears that went into that day, into their season. They are for the end of an era-this team will never play together again.

Pelé, one the greatest soccer players of all time, so wisely said that soccer is ,“O jogo bonito”  which translates to, ‘The beautiful game.’ I’m so incredibly proud of Jack and his teammates and so grateful to be part of something so wonderful.

Winning isn’t everything. Being part of a team, making new friends, sharing the incredible moments of victory and the tears of loss together. That, that is everything.

The season may be over, but the memories and the brotherly love-that’s forever.