Anastasis and Drusella: The Ugly Athletes

The Ugly Athlete is the Hater. The Ugly Athlete is the one who is not satisfied with who they truly are. The Ugly Athlete spends so much time attempting to fit a mold they can never be. The Ugly Athlete does not embrace who they are. The Ugly Athlete does not work towards perfecting that which they truly are, but continually strives to be something else. These are the Anastasis’ and Drusellas of sports.

In the world of training, my favorite athletes are the ones everyone thought could never do it -the ones who everyone doubted. I love training that right-handed batter who is cursed with great speed and gets moved to the left side of the plate to slap at the ball. The one who gets ignored in practice because they’re not the “gifted one.” That hard worker who has truly made themselves special. That player who barely made team and then goes on to become the number three batter in college.

I love the feeling of telling that player who didn’t think they were going to the dance and had no intention of going to the party, “Hey, get dressed. Your limo is downstairs. You’re going to the show!” These are my favorite scenarios.

Now most people tend to identify with Cinderella, simply because she wins in the end -but what about her haters? Why was Anastasis and Drusella trying to fit into a slipper they knew wouldn’t fit? Why? Because they were ugly.

I see a lot of athletes like this as well. They seem to always want to be something they just aren’t. I guess on some level we all do. They wanna be “That Girl” or “That Dude” when they’re really “This Girl” or “This Guy.” Don’t get me wrong, I am all for having dreams. But dreams are for young children. At some point we will grow out of our fantasy worlds.

Our dreams will become realistic goals when we learn to walk in the reality of who we truly are. So while you are chasing the A-Train, the B-Train has no more seats left for you. All of a sudden you aren’t on any train. I see it time and time again. When we are really young its called dreaming. I always thought one has to be asleep in order to dream. But when we actually wake up, we are no longer in denial. Don’t be the ugly athlete. Be the best YOU possible. Believe it or not, YOU is the only person you really can be.

-Rob Crews

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