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461
Joined
5/9/2011
Location
Centerville, PA
US
Edited Date/Time
2/9/2018 9:41am
I was watching so videos on youtube and one was on RV's career. In it he said if he had it to do all over again he would not race motorcycles...he'd do something different. He said something about "if it wasn't for the money and what not". What was is that RV disliked so much about the whole thing. He never really did seem extremely happy but his effort, determination, and preparation told a different story.
Back in the early 90's, one of my close friends was friends with a lot of the football players at a large, D-1 college. One of his friends was an offensive lineman who wasn't a starter, but played a good bit as a rotational player. Good college player, but not great. I'll never forget something my friend told me he said.
After the last game of the year of his senior season, there was a party that night. My friend started talking to this player (who knew he didn't have any pro aspirations) and kind of offered his "condolences" considering he'd just played the last game of his college career. The player told him that, "this was the best day of his life". Why? Because when you're 6'5", big as hell, and athletic in high school in south Georgia, you don't get asked, "do you want to play football?". It's just naturally assumed. He said, "I was good at it, but I hated every minute of it. Nobody ever stopped to ask me if this was something I wanted to do. I just did it." Now, I'm paraphrasing a bit, but you get the jist.
What does this have to do with motocross? Some dads get so wrapped up in getting their kids into the sport, they don't ever stop to ask, "is this something you enjoy doing, or are you doing this because you think it makes me happy?" So you have a kid who just wants to ride, but he's damn good at it. Well, daddy decides he's the next big thing, and sometimes, he is, But you have to wonder if some of these kids actually enjoy the process.
I always said that I would never make my son race. I always told him that if he wanted to, I would support him 100%, but only if he enjoyed doing it. He was a fast little bugger (still is) but he just loves to ride and doesn't give a shit about racing. I couldn't have been happier.
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Pit Row
NIL in perspective X3.
Its easy for him to say i wouldn't do it again now that he's done it. But if his alternative was 20-25 days a month in a truck away from his family for the next 20 years of his life would he take that instead? My guess is no.
The other thing that I also see in sports is the pursuit of the goal. People strive to be a champ, and to do what it takes to become a champ. But once you achieve that goal, there is only one way to go - down. And again, your perspective changes because now you are simply trying to hold onto what you have been chasing. That part can be a huge mental burden for some people.
By the same token i don't have an understanding of what he has gone through either. I guess the lesson really is that the grass isn't always greener
He mentions how he wished the family was closer and he had that fame to share with his family at certain points.
there was a few years where they didnt even talk. especiialy growing up as a amuture he also talks about his father pushing them up and beyond..
if any of you get a chance.. watch the moto series called "SPECTRUM". Its all about the ugly truth behind motocross and supercross.
He always looked absolutely miserable at the amateur nationals----while his little bro roamed the pits having an actual childhood.
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