Written by When I was in the 5th grade at Hatfield Elementary School (Uniontown, PA) I met a lifelong brother and the truest of friends, Joseph Spinuzza. The first thing we did was have a rubber-band gun fight (We were 11 years old) … the second thing that we did as friends was have a boxing match. (Again, still 11) I lost badly; guys and gals, frankly, he’s like a freaking Viking. In a Game of Thrones mindset, it’s like The Mountain vs. Oberyn Martell. (Yeah I give references in every article that people may not understand, deal with it)
Yeah, we may be a little odd in the fact that we had fun fighting each other, but I believe there is something special in fighting someone and then picking them up just to laugh about it afterward. We challenge each other. Joe is a true kindred spirit to me in the sense of thinking, “Yeah, I’m not losing to you, in a fight or my personal ambitions.” We became family; I now look at the Spinuzza family as my own … because WE ARE family. (Yeah, see those Penn State shirts above? … Both Alumni)
Now, how does this relate to Sport culture? Well, it relates because it’s a couple of washed up athletes that made a pact to get back into the game, so to speak. We drew our line in the sand and decided that we weren’t done fighting to be better.
Several weeks ago, Joe messaged me to ask me about being his workout partner even though we live completely across the country from one another. We were high school teammates, training partners, and shared a love for MMA and Track & Field. When he texted me recently to ask to be training partners again, the whole thing was set in motion. We now motivate each other, share results, and share our expectations for one another. (It’s awesome)
But moreover, Joe has an enlightened perception on Sport Culture that he refers to as the “gray area” of human performance and toughness. Joe states, “One of the most fascinating things about human performance and elite training is the rebellion against the human psyche to expel unnecessary energy in the short term for delayed gratification.” (I.e., keep the long-term in the picture)
“The impetus to train exists in a gray area of the human psyche, a line in the sand must be drawn. Even as a former athlete, you can still own your challenge of being better. Short-term, long-term … for a true athlete, it’s the same; we’re fighters, and we do not stop.”
So really, Sport Culture extends beyond your athletic career; moreover, once an athlete … always an athlete, all one needs is a friend to challenge the other. Sport Culture is a lifestyle, a lifestyle that persists for a lifetime. We push each other, we challenge each other, and we teach a younger generation to do the same. (Yeah that little guy featured above is tougher than either of us)
Draw your line in the sand, accept the challenge, fight against age. I’ve said this before and will say it again – I don’t shine if you don’t shine my brother.
From Joe and I, as always, Cheers to Sport Culture. It lasts a lifetime.
Pictured above: Joseph Spinuzza (Interviewee) Jacob Hensh (Writer) Jameson Spinuzza (Joe’s Nephew) and Milo (A Cute Puppy)