Man I was a heck of an athlete.  I was the starter on all my teams and had games that were so memorable, they are still talked about to this day.  I accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish – all-state recognition, championship titles, college opportunities, and professional sports experience.

And how did I do it??

I was a naturally gifted athlete of course.  I didn’t have to work that hard outside of normal practices because I was so gifted.  I didn’t do much beyond the team lifting because I knew how to turn it up at game time.  And that’s when it really mattered.

That’s all I needed.  Everything just came to me.  My playing career at Indiana and the pro career you all can Google about was just spectacular.

And if you believe all of that, then I won’t tell you what I know about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

The above was what potentially could have happened if I, or you, wouldn’t have been such a hardheaded dummy growing up.  You know that phrase, “If I knew then what I know now.”  That’s what this post is about.

If you played sports growing up and had aspirations of “BIG TIME” that didn’t quite happen, I’ve created this nice apology letter that you can send to your parents.  You can also save this and give it to your child when their “not what they thought it would end up as” sport’s career is finally over and tell them to open it in 20 years.

For this sample letter you can copy, I will use an individual who played basketball.  But, you can insert any sport you like with any example you like of how little work you really did to improve your game.

Dear

[insert your parent’s name here],

I finally can admit this, but you were right and I was wrong.  I am 20 years removed from my athletic playing days and can clearly see that now.  Let me explain.

At the time, I really thought I was giving 100% effort during my practices to make myself better.  I thought my natural “awesomeness” at my sport was enough to carry me to my goals and dreams I had for my sport.  

I now realize that like most things when it comes to looking back at my younger days, I really had no idea what I was thinking.  I was an impetuous youth who thought he I knew way more than what I really did.

You would be gone all day at work and suggested I work on my basketball game by spending time with ball handling and taking 100 shots from different spots on the court on a daily basis.  I told you that I did do that, even though you clearly saw in games me dribbling off my leg and bricking up shot after shot.

If I really looked back, my all day of basketball work was really 15 minutes of shooting some foul shots and taking a few jumpers from 10 feet beyond the 3 point line.  Then practicing what my trick shots would be in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

When you got on me during the summer saying I was lying around doing nothing and I should be outside working on my game.  I sharply responded back, “Mom [or dad], I got this!  Leave me alone.  I am getting in shape.”  Yet, I could barely run down to the end of the driveway and back without bending over sucking wind.

You in your eternal wisdom suggesting to help me out would pay for special sport instruction (obviously knowing this opportunity I had because you yourself had probably done the same stupid thing to Grandma and Grandpa).  I replying, “Why do I need to do this.  I’m working hard on my own.  This is BS.”  And basically spitting this wonderful chance to improve right back into your face.

Well, I now see how stupid I was and wish I could go back in time and accept your graciousness.  Who knows what I could have done in sports if I really had applied myself and done the extra work necessary to make me a better athlete.

What has sparked this wonderful apology to you, you might ask?  It is because your ungrateful grandson is doing the same thing to me now.  The moron can’t chew gum and run at the same time and thinks he is just going to average 20 points for his 5th grade rec team.  Then fights me on every opportunity to get better.

I bet you were secretly wishing for this day to come.  Once again, sorry I was so bull-headed.  Hopefully, I can reach my kid before it is too late with him.

Your loving son [or daughter].