I was too thin to participate in any sports in high school, let alone my grades would've never been good enough. Pro-Rodeo Team Roping: The sport I really got interested in, back in the mid 80's, was pro-rodeo. My very first rodeo and it was indoor at the Long Beach, Calif. Arena. After that rodeo, I went out and bought myself a hat, boots and Wrangler jeans. Was going to be a Saddle Bronc Rider, then, after swinging a rope loop, was told I'd make a better roper. So, next came the horse, saddle, ropes and Roping School. Got a membership into a rodeo association and it was one rodeo after another in So California. After my hip replacement in 2005, my "roping days" were over. But, I feel, and so does my wife, that I was pretty darn good on a horse, in the saddle and swinging a rope (loop). Anther hobby that I absolutely love to do is photography. I've taken lots and lots of photos, including some wildlife ones of Bull Elk, Moose and Buffalo. Add power boating and freshwater fishing to that "hobby" list. Wife and I love both as well as target shooting at local Range. What about you? Any past, or present sports or hobbies you really enjoy?
I was never good at any sport. I never tried, really. I enjoyed playing baseball when it was just kids playing a game but Little League was more stressful than fun, and I sucked at it. I think I only had three hits in two years; two singles and a double. I made it to third on one, but it still only counted as a double. Since I was short, I walked a lot and could run pretty fast, so I could steal bases. It seemed like pitchers and catchers were never prepared for a stolen base so that worked pretty often. Even then though, if I was thrown out trying to steal a base, everyone would yell at me, completely ignoring all of the other ones that I was able to advance on. As a right-fielder, I don't think I ever caught a ball. That's the only sport I've ever tried.
From the time I was old enough to toddle around, all I wanted was a horse (well, pony at that stage of my life), and when I finally did get a horse, riding was my passion. I belonged to 4-H and also to the local Horsemens Club, so I went to parades, horse shows, and on lots of trail rides up into the Idaho mountains. In the summer, we had gymkhanas (playdays) where we competed in races and games. I also rode in the mounted drill team, so we performed at the fair, and rode in local parades as a team. When we had a gymkhana, the drill team members would serve hot dogs and cold pop and make some money for extra equipment that we needed for the drill team (things like little flags to carry, etc ). My kids grew up having a pony from the time there were little, so we often went on long rides into the mountains when they were growing up. I bought a little pony cart, and we all had fun riding in the cart , up and down the road. Besides horses, I have always enjoyed fishing. My folks used to go camping and fishing almost every weekend in the summer when I was growing up, and after I had kids, we all went swimming and fishing in the local lakes and rivers. I especially loved it when we lived in Western Washington, and we went to a little inlet where a creek ran into the bay near Olympia. The tide would come in, and we caught all kinds of interesting salt water fish, and when it went back out again, we would make a little bbq fire and cook the fish we had caught. We often fished until late at night and everyone was tired and ready to go home and go to sleep.
Same with me. I was never very competitive, and team sports can get VERY competitive. Not for me. OTOH, maybe I'd feel differently if I were really good at one. lol
The things I got "good" at, including sports (softball, only), materialized only by my perseverence. I HAD to be able to play ball with the guys who were already in high school, when I was still in Junior High. I HAD to learn how to be a good welder to build those exhaust systems for the various engine transplants I did. Same for metal-working, plumbing, electrical......I HAD to do it. Frank
I am good at absolutely nothing.. true not one sport, one game, cards, you name it and I am just lousy. I noticed this in elementary school. i was always the last one to get picked and no one wanted me. Coordination is part of the problem- I have none. I use to dance, did pretty good in that. But to excel in anything..nooo Miss Untalented I could win an award.
Only in gym and on Field Day during my school years elementary and high school. I enjoyed track (dashes) and volleyball.
Competetive shooting I have been involved in some type since a very young age, I have done all types and traveled all over doing so, I still shoot matches every month.
@Tex Dennis Then you must surely know of Massad Ayoob? Champion pistol shot from long ago. Have you ever seen the picture of Ed McGivern hitting 5 bottles thrown randomly into the air at once, shooting his revolver from the hip? It was claimed he could fire a revolver faster than the slide travels on a semi-automatic! I have the pic somewhere, will try to find it. Frank
I love photography...I wish I had a better camera, but I do the best I can with what I have... Since school I've always been super competitive and still am to this day in everything I do in life..but I was into Sports , track and field in my younger days and netball ( I was Goal attack) and pretty good at it given how little I am) , and I can still run if I need to, but I haven't trained in years due to back problems.. but I can still take off from a standing start when needed and make a good 100 metre dash , even at 63... Since I first learned to read I've been an avid reader, I'll read anything from psychology to a cornflake packet...but don't ever put a chick lit in my hands, I'd burn it..lol.. I hate romantic fiction , but otherwise I've never lost my love of reading and researching.. and learning.. I adore swimming and sailing even though I came to both of those as an adult.. but I love them both... but since I was a youngster Music has been my main passion. I don't play any more..I used to play Cello, but I adore listening to music and burning video discs to music.. Life without music and photography would be no life at all for me
@Hal Pollner If you've read much of Ayoob's work, you will already know that his Father was a shop-owner, don't remember exactly, jewelry, or something, and the boy was present when an armed robber entered and his Father shot the intruder. A frightening, but enlightening experience for a little boy, who subsequently realized that firearms provided the needed shield against armed intrusion into peoples' lives. He dedicated his entire life to promoting civilian firearms ownership and self-defense training. Frank