Sports & Spirituality - Fall 2013

Why do you love playing the sport you do?
Carlos Betancourt, Surfer and Baseball Player
Baseball: I love playing baseball because of the special bond my teammates and I have. We act like brothers and joke around like brothers. I just enjoy succeeding with my team and when I do well or another teammate does well, we all notice it and give them props.
Surfing: I love surfing because it is calming. Whether I'm in the water by myself, with my dad, or with my friends, I always have a smile on my face and have a great time doing it. But there are also times where you can get really frustrated while surfing and thinking to yourself why you aren't catching any waves. This can happen quite often because we cannot control mother nature, but then you ride that one good wave and you are hooked again. It's a cycle.
Michael Dudum, Coxswain
I love crew and coxing for two different reasons: I enjoy the sport, competition, and winning, and how crew has helped me grow. I'm good at coxing, which is a plus, but it's a role that lets me be vocal and motivating versus outside of crew where I’m more reserved. To some extent, it turns me into a different "Michael.” Overall, just the feeling of moving quickly and increasing your lead is an odd sensation, but it's something I enjoy. In addition, I love coxing because it requires a person to be responsible, encouraging, independent, and mature; they are all traits that pass onto my daily life and academic work, and I can confidently say that the traits that I’ve developed through coxing have significantly shaped who I am. It's a sport I enjoy, but it's also something I'm grateful to be apart of.
Nina Pappas, Rower
I love rowing. You probably are thinking you misheard me so I'll repeat it: I love rowing! Am I crazy? Probably, but I'm not alone. Rowing is largely an individual sport but it's also one of the best team sports. If you've ever seen an 8 go by, you will notice something crazy: everyone is moving, pushing, breathing at the same time. If you've ever hard a group project, you'll know how hard it is even to get 3 people on the same page but crew demands that the boat of individuals becomes a single machine. One off move and you'll throw the boat off set. After millions of morning stairs, weight room circuits, sand sprints, and lake runs, we become more than a close team: we become one single force. Why do I row? Because when the boat is set, our oars are clacking together, and the water is glass, I feel invincible.
Sam Pitti, Rower
Rowing creates a connectedness within myself through mind, body, and spirit. I love that it takes true aggression and competitiveness to be able to push through every challenge and embrace the meaning of passion. True relationships are formed in the development of your character and it brings all your strengths to the surface.
Noah Schumacher, Surfer
I love surfing because of the culture and community it fosters. Surfing is more then just a sport, it creates a desire to live a certain way. Surfers, if passionate, realize they have to live near the beach and also that a portion of their life is now devoted to surfing. Surfing also creates a sense of community between all other people who surf. There is instantly a connection that surfers share and from that connection they can easily become friends. Besides the thrill of serenity of surfing, the culture and community are some if its best characteristics that makes me love it.
Haley Friesch, Golfer
I love playing golf because it constantly challenges me. I can never get bored because it's different every time I play. It also keeps my ego in check because I can have one good round and one bad round right after, so it constantly pushes me to keep working at it.
Who is your role model in sports & why?
Darren Ching, American born Chinese person trying to find meaning and purpose in my life.
Jeremy Lin because of his hard work and dedication to both basketball and his faith.
Sarah Jensen, Varsity Softball Player and Buster Posey lover
Buster Posey because he is the perfect example of resiliency. He was such a star in 2010 and then suffered a terrible season ending injury in 2011, but the fact that he could be a major role in leading his team to the 2012 World Series which the Giants went on to win is very admirable. He teaches me that if I ever feel down, or not good enough for a sport or suffer an injury, it's all about how you come back. There's some quote about how "It's not how hard you fall, but how quickly you get up," and this is exactly what Posey embodies. His positive attitude and charisma in a sport where you can get so caught up in yourself and all the fame makes me like him that much more. He is my favorite sports player, and someone I look forward to watching his progress and his great future in MLB.
John Corbolotti, SI radio, Lacrosse player
It would probably be Jason Dufner. He is a professional golfer that shows little emotion on the golf course. Yet most people on tour love him and think he is so much fun to be around.
Quinci Mann, Combo Guard, Baller
Derek Rose because we are similar in playing technique and skill set so I try to learn as much as I can from his style of play. Also he is the perfect blend of confidence and humility. Even coming off of a two-year ACL tear injury he still believes he is the best player in the NBA, but he also does not flaunt it and I find his presence to be both comforting and exuberant.
Who has been your favorite coach and why?
Tim Chong, Swimmer, Basketball Player, Coach
Coach Matty was my coach since I was in the 2nd grade and passed away when I was in 5th grade. He was my first and favorite coach because he pushed me to do my best and showed me that basketball is more than just trying to be an all-star or doing everything by yourself. He also showed me skills such as hard work, determination, and many others that were used not only on the court but in life.
Katie Hagan, Volleyball Player
My favorite volleyball coach is Ki Choi. He was my club coach for my eighth grade spring season, and he is now my coach for my final volleyball season at SI. He taught me everything I know about setting, and I am so appreciative of the fact that he is my coach for my last season of volleyball. He respects me as a player, and I really like his "lead-by-example" coaching style. He knows how to coach different personalities and understands that effort should always be valued in the game of volleyball.
Sarah Armstrong, Wildcat, Activist, Theatre Kid, Christian
My favorite coach was my hurdles coach Freshman year. Coach Alexis treated the freshmen with as much respect as he did the varsity athletes. None of us had hurdled before, and he really took the time to work with us and helped us to improve at our own pace. He would always give us inspirational quotes to keep us motivated. For an individual sport, our team definitely bonded because of him. I am so glad I had a coach like him in my lifetime.
Anne Stricherz, Sports & Spirituality Teacher & Blogger, Runner, Aspiring Golfer, Fan of all things ND
My favorite coach was my tennis coach, Michael Wayman. He loved and respected the game. He emphasized the importance of fundamentals, had a remarkable work ethic and his English accent/expressions were of added value/entertainment. He assigned homework(!) for his players. In doing that, we learned the history of the game. I have always thought a big reason I love tennis is because I respected its past—how it developed, who contributed to it and what it looks like today. Thank you Michael.
What is one professional sports team you could like to play on and why?
Maddie Barry, Swimmer and Giants Fan
The San Francisco Giants even though I don’t play baseball. I have been following the Giants ever since I was little, and was really excited when they went to the World Series. I think that the Giants have a great sports atmosphere, and would love to experience that in the eyes of a player. I also would love to play alongside Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, and Brandon Belt among others. It would be an incredible experience to have that many people screaming your name or your team and have people wear your jersey.
Trevor Lee, Golfer, Fantasy Basketball Legend, Warriors Fan
The “Seven seconds or less” Phoenix Suns in the 2005-2010 era. The team was so fun to watch and probably would have been even more fun to be a part of. Led by the prime Steve Nash, a dominant/young Amare Stoudemire, and numerous shooters, I can only imagine the fun they had playing at an unbelievably fast pace through the game. Their idea with this strategy was that they could outscore their opponents if they shot the ball before the opponent's defense could be set up. Being on this team would be awesome; they had such great chemistry both on and off the court.
Sydney Slosar, Blackhawks Fan, Avid Skier
Kerri Walsh and Misty May Treanor. Beach volleyball is such a hard and demanding sport but they make it look so easy. They have such a strong connection and chemistry with each other but also know how to connect with other teammates. I would want to play on their team because they work so well to get their job done. They are a professional beach volleyball team that has also made it to the Olympics several times. I got the chance to meet Kerri Walsh and she was exactly as I had hoped, very welcoming and encouraging. They love what they do and I think being able to play with them would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
If you could have dinner with one athlete/living or dead, who would it be and why?
Parker Lovett, Religion student, Blackhawks Fan
Charles Barkley because he had a fantastic NBA career as well as a great term as a broadcaster. Also, he is very knowledgeable and opinionated on race issues, politics, and other social issues in the world today.
Lindsay Bettinger, Soccer player, Peyton Manning Fan
Peyton Manning, because he is one of the greatest athletes in the world. He doesn’t play for the fame or the glory, he plays for the love of the game. He is such an inspiration because he is not only an athlete, but a very well- rounded person as well. He is also supposed to be hilarious and have an awesome personality. Peyton Manning also gives back to the community and is a role model to many, including me. Go Broncos!
Max Realyvasquez, Actor
Former SF Giant Willie Mays. I find it amazing that he is so influential in the San Francisco community, yet I know very little about why he was so influential. Its obvious that he was an amazing athlete when it came to baseball, but I feel like there is something more to his success. I think Willie Mays falls into a group of players, such as Mickey Mantle and Willie McCovey, that had a true love for the game and developed a great reputation for the game, yet many people just see them as names backed up by statistics. I would like to know what kind of person lies behind these cover-ups.
Kevin Sheehan, Rower, 49er Fan
Barry Zito because his dream besides baseball is to be a chef and he seems like a really cool guy to be around.
Joe Lang, Lacrosse player
I would have to pick Joe Montana. I would love to hear stories about “the comeback kid” and hear all about his career. I want to ask him what it feels like to play in and win a Super Bowl- something he has done many times. I think that this dinner would be very interesting because Montana had such an exciting career on my favorite football team, the 49ers. I have so many questions for him, like which athletes he most enjoyed playing with, what he thinks of the NFL concussion problem, and how he views modern day football as oppose to when he played.
If you could witness one event in sports history, what would it be and why?
Brenna Louie, Passionate Dancer
The World Series 9/11 Yankees game because it would be such a powerful, amazing moment to witness the whole city come together in a time of struggle and hardship.
Scott Wu, Volleyball Player
I would definitely go with the 100 point game by Wilt Chamberlain because he accomplished this feat at a time where there was no 3 point line so 50 field goals or a combination of that with free throws. It is an astounding feat and something that would be crazy to witness: 100 points in 48 minutes.
Jack Hayes, Actor, Laker Faithful
I would watch the miracle on ice because it's the epitome of an amazing underdog story.