I think all sports fans have that one player that just defines that sport for them. I think we all have that player that made us love a sport and truly understand it on a whole new level. Maybe though, it's just me that does. I love football and sure part of it is because I'm a born and raised Texas girl. I've enjoyed football at the pee wee level all the way up to pro and pretty well all levels in between. But it wasn't until I saw the great Peyton Manning throw a football that I really got it. He made me truly love football and I'm going to bawl like a baby when the day comes that he retires lol. He plays the sport with such passion. He literally pours himself into the game. Most people never thought he'd come back from all the neck surgeries, let alone do what he did last season. It was just simply amazing and I feel so honored I got to watch. But Peyton Manning has proven himself to be not just an amazing athlete but person. He never puts the game above people and goes out of his way to act with class. It's a breath of fresh air to see a professional male athlete with that kind of character. I love soccer because of Hope Solo. She's made some bad decisions but I can't make myself not want to watch her make save after save after save. She's fought tooth and toe nail to get where she is and I have so much respect for that. Sure there are several other soccer players I really like and enjoy watching but Hope Solo is where it all started for me. She's strong and passionate. She refuses to be the quiet wall flower society expects female athletes to be. If women's professional sports are to continue to grow and thrive we NEED more Hope Solos. Women with her firey passion and leadership are what keeps these sports moving forward.
But as you all probably know my biggest passion is softball and its also probably not much of a secret that it really started with Danielle Lawrie! I've always liked to watch softball. It was something we always watched. My dad played slow pitch when I was a kid. But when I started watching Danielle it changed. Much like Peyton Manning and Hope Solo, Danielle has always played with so much passion and just pulled me in. When I first started watching her she was a young girl fighting for her place in the world of softball and now almost 10 years later she has more than made her mark on the sport! She wasn't on a big name travel ball team or recruited by half a dozen schools. But she did everything she could with what she had and got noticed by Coach Tarr and Washington. Her career at Washington was incredible! Her name is all over the record book. She was key in the 2009 National Championship team. She was the National Player of the year, twice. That's just the tip of the iceberg. She put Washington softball on the map and this past season they retired her jersey! I was so happy for her and I can't think of too many more people more deserving! She played for team Canada, including in the Olympics! She is probably the best known Canadian softball player. She inspired many Canadian girls to pick up a softball. Currently she is playing for the Pride and has had a wonderful career for them! Yesterday she announced this will be her last season and I am a bundle of emotions about it. I'm sad to see her career end. It's crazy to me to think in the next few weeks I'll watch her pitch for the last time. I'd love to see her take one more at bat also. She swung a mean bat back in the day lol. I wish her career could last longer but she could play 10 more years and I'd still feel that way. But mostly I feel honored I got to watch and enjoy her career! When I think of her career, the moment I always seem to think of was Super Regionals in 2010. Oklahoma came to Seattle and the first game Danielle really struggled! It was probably the single worst game I've ever seen her pitch. The next day she came out and dominated OU in two games to send Washington back to the WCWS. It was incredible but it was vintage Danielle. She is tough and resilient. She always gives 100% when she is playing. She is incredibly humble. It has been nothing but an honor to watch her grow and mature into the person she is today. I am so thankful for all the memories! Although she will no longer be playing, I know she'll continue to be a big part of the softball world. She'll leave it much better than she found it! I wish her nothing but the best and look forward to seeing where life takes her! I know big things are ahead for her! But for now I am going to soak up every chance I get to see her pitch! I'll post a video with just a few highlights from her days at Washington and maybe some other videos if I can get them to post.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF5nkXiP2YE
