Past glory
When I was 12 years old, before our family migrated to Perth, I played a lot of hockey. I loved the game. From the age of 10 when I first picked up a hockey stick, I was completely hooked. I had dreams of playing for the National team. I started playing as a Goalkeeper and I would finish as one.
I played for my Primary school and swept the competition on a district, regional and finally, state level. We were champions! I went on to represent the State team for the U-12 boys team. It would be the only time in my life that I managed to play at such a high level. I was the only Chinese in the whole team. I still have the picture with me somewhere and thinking about that entire team made me feel funny. You see Malays, Sikhs and Indians and suddenly, one Chinese! Anyway, we made it to the Semis and it was there when I experienced my lowest point of my short career. I made a mistake and the other team mananged to snatch a draw which resulted in our team being eliminated from the Gold medal game. Words couldn't express how crushed I felt and years from that day, I could still the pang of pain and disappointment of that game. My team mates and coach assured me that it wasn't my fault and as with any other team game, no individual should be blamed for it. Cold comfort....
I remember walking out of the tunnel of the brand new hockey stadium and onto the Astro pitch. The roar was deafening. Even though we were the youngest team, it felt like the entire city had come to support us. Parents, team mates from the other teams, the media, the stadium was packed and the adrenalin was pumping. I will never forget the roar and cheer that permeated throughout the stadium. We went on to win 2-0 and claim the bronze medal.
Shortly after that, we migrated to Perth. I had the opportunity to continue playing and did so. I played for a private club and it participated in the local state U-15 competition. Once again, I was the only yellow skinned player on the team. A yellow banana in the midst of ...hmmm... longans. Hah! Lame...
To top it off, I was their first choice goalkeeper as their regular goalkeeper wasn't that fantastic. I played with them for two seasons and had to move so I couldn't continue. The coach and the team begged me to stay and the coach even cried! Well, anyway, after much discussion with my parents, I continued with them for another season before really giving up. It became too impractical for me to come and play with them as I lived quite a distance from them. My team mates reckoned if I continued, I would easily make the State team. Imagine that, playing for Western Australia and having a chance to play for Australia, one of the top hockey nations of the world. But my story ended. I continued to play for my school but that was about it.
Why did I give up finally? Well, if you know anything about hockey, it is a game that is played with sticks (carbon fibre or wooden) and a small round hard ball. Kinda like a cricket ball. The game demands a high level of physical commitment and as the goalkeeper, you are usually the target for oppositions with sticks whacking the ball at hundreds of kilometres at you. After facing so many of such situations, I kinda got tired and a bit scared of it. I am not that tall and big physically so I decided to move on. Oh well...
Any regrets? Sure, sometimes. Isn't life full of regrets anyway?
posted by Inconspicuous @ 8:18 AM
10 Comments:
Well at least you have tried before giving up, it's still better than those people who had not even tried and gave up.
Yes indeed. Actually I gave up more because I got tired of it. :) Absolutely great experience!
haha... hockey is a great game! Love the feel of the turf. when it is wet!! so nice to just bum on it. Haha...
GK is so scary... think i sure shut my eyes when the ball come towards me. haha!!
"You know you want it" - not very helpful for a gamer who cant afford a MMORPG ar... >.<
Yep, when I was fully equipped with the goalkeeper equipment, it was very fun to slide around on the turf. Tackling players was fun too. :)
Yeah, sorry, you're right. How about Guild Wars? I heard you don't have to pay a monthly subscription?
wah... din know u played hockey... cool... like national level... that's even cooler... haha... we should see u in action soon... hehe...
But there are alot of betas out there wad... Guild Wars is fun and affordable... WOW is just... wow... in terms of price... haha...
eh i play hockey also! primary school. lolz. only for 2 years. then my secondary school no hockey so ya.
heh.
Hockey players UNITE!!!! I'll see if I can convert the P.Square to astro-turf! As if...
hahahaha.. I WISH TOO. been long since i played hockey.
i was the only chinese too. lolz.
Hey Mr Lee...!!
Wah lao, i'm glad i catch ur blogs.
I'm crazy about hockey can!
Then back in ny, when i was in student council, i kept trying to get the whole council down for hockey but we lack the equipment. Then most people weren't really enthu abt hockey coz it sounds wild and dangerous to them. Some bimbos even complained hockey sticks v heavy *roll eyes* So i set to ditch my grand plan in implementing hockey and channelled all possibilities to getting the council to play floorball. Yeah never settle for the 2nd best but well, under those circumstances i had to be flexible, u know.
Finally, I rallied enough support from whole council after going through crap comments but in life, we all must learn to filter out negativities to keep ourselves going. Then we managed to get funds from the school to purchase floorball sticks. I convinced the principal that :-
1.) Floorball is a good alternative to hockey as it is less dangerous and creates bonds that's beneficial for teamwork (esp in CCAs like student council.)
2.) Floorball doesn't spoil the parade square. Parade squares can't be only for assemblys; surely there are ways to get creative with limited physical resources.
3.) Student Council needed funds. We can rent floorball sticks out to let people play like crazy in the parade square when the sun isn't scorching our skin and earn a small income. At the same time, they bond and create school spirit.
Somehow after many lengthy persuasions to differing hiearchies and paperwork, we managed to kinda start floorball like some sort of NY-must-have activity. In fact, that same year nearing Teachers' Day, I was I/C of Teachers Day Adhoc and implemented floorball competition. It was pretty good response considering students tend to skip nonsense activites in sch by the time they reach 16 plus. It was one of the best things i ever did throughout my life. In fact, the best achievements are never those glamourous recorded down in CCA records, u know what i mean? The best part is that.. till now, after I graduate from NY 2002, Anita commented that NY still crazy with floorball, it's becoming like every generation must-play thing. Wow! A baby step can walk miles.
My point being, I really hope too, that we can have some sort of floorball/hockey phenomenom over here at TAS. Get pple to play and they'll be hooked for sure. We have a parade square and we lack school spirit (and darn funds), so why not? I'm sure we can rally more support.
CheerZ~~!
Okay, we NEED to have a discussion about this. Will contact you soon. Sounds like an excellent idea worth pursuing! Thanks once again for the great ideas!
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