Football Is Life

I had learnt what it means to play football. It's not just about the sports. It's a metaphor for life, not only the most watched sports in the world; it's the most exalting and heartbreaking and potentially tragic. It poses every conceivable element to the player, and more; disappointment, adrenaline, unspeakably bad luck, unthinkable beauty, unmatchable elation, hopelessness, helplessness, and above all a great, deep self-questioning. During our lives we're faced with so many different elements as well, we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope. Football is not just a sport, not at all! It is a test. It tests you physically, it tests you mentally, and it even tests you morally. (excerpt taken and edited from It's Not About The Bike - My Journey Back to Life by Lance Armstrong)
In football, as in life; you've got a goal to achieve and you've got companions who share the same dream. In football, as in life; you'll meet resistance in the face of opponents who are determined to not let you succeed. In football, as in life; you'd sometimes need a moment of individual brilliance. Other times, you'd have your companions who'd help you win. In football, as in life; there'll be moments that take your breath away! In football, as in life; when you achieve your purpose, you are complete and you have your companions to celebrate with you. In football, as in life; you've individuals by your side who will always be willing to go the extra mile with you, to throw their bodies on the line for you. In football, as in life; you'd need assists and you'd need to assist others. In football, as in life; you'd have the moment of glory and you'd have your days of gloom. If there's a defining characteristic of football as opposed to life, maybe it's that football makes sense.

That letter 'f' in life stands for football. Without it, life remains just a lie.