Jon Lester’s Courage
Jon Lester’s no hitter a couple weeks ago versus the Royals shows the pinnacle of overcoming off-field adversity and how it can become on-field success.
Jon Lester was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a treatable form of cancer, on August 31, 2006. Beating cancer is a lifetime achievement for anyone, I can only imagine how differently a person must think after being told they have cancer, especially a young, talented major league pitcher. It truly puts baseball in perspective. Perspective, however we get it, is a good thing. Congratulations go to Jon Lester!
For athletes, being on the field presents an escape from reality. We don’t always need or want the escape from our personal lives, but inside the lines the variables we can control tend to stay more constant and consistent. The adversity on the field can be anticipated. I know when I’m choosing what pitch to throw that once I let go of the ball, it is almost certainly out of my control. Not a bad way to look at most scenarios…be prepared, work hard, and know that you are in control of only what you can control. Someone else might’ve done it differently and might have questions to ask about your decisions on the field (meet the press!). They have rights to their own thoughts, correct?
One guarantee, you cannot and never will be able to control what other people think.
Our lives off the field are different than our lives on the field. The variables aren’t as consistent.
Reality for Jon Lester on August 30, 2006 was that he was going to have to beat cancer. Bill Cosby has a quote, “Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it.” I’m sure the fear of hearing you’re diagnosed with cancer is nearly unbearable. There is a point, though, in which you make a conscious decision that you want to beat cancer and live, more than you are afraid of it. Obviously, this is an extreme situation. Lester overcame extreme adversity. The approach, though, is inspiring and beyond admirable.
One more quote that I think relates directly and indirectly to the above:
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm–Winston Churchill
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As a Mariners fan, I can certainly relate to the last quote. Good post, I hope to see the Phillies in Seattle sometime soon. I’ve already seen Lester, that game was phenomenal.