This is Alex Rodriguez.  He makes $25,200,000 each year to play the game of baseball, but you already knew that.  This post is not about Alex Rodriguez.

I’ve been reading a lot of blogs lately, since I’m just getting into the swing of things here.  The other day I came across MeanDovine’s “Catharsis” and I couldn’t agree more.  It may be a broad generalization, but today’s professional athletes seem to be motivated more by the almighty buck than ever before.  But take heart, bloggers.  This post is about sport where sport is still pure, and I assure you, there are a lot of places where this can be easily found:

Somewhere in America, a 16-year-old high school football player woke up today at the crack of dawn, hours before he had to in order to get to his summer job down at the local convenience store.  He got up so he could run a few miles and maybe lift some weights before he got started on the daily grind.  What is his motivation?  Does he want to have a great season because he has a $1,000,000 bonus that kicks in on his shoe endorsement deal if he rushes for over 1000 yards? Is it the last year on his contract, so he’s looking to up his value for free agency?  No.  Football practice starts in a month or less, and this year, he’d like to make the starting 22 on the varsity squad, because he loves to play the game.

Somewhere in America, a father will come home exhausted from work tonight.  All he’ll want to do is sit down in his easy chair, flip on the tube, and maybe crack open a cold one.  But when his eager son asks him to play a game of catch in the in the waning twilight, chances are he will be happy to oblige.  He’ll do it because he loves his son, and they both share their love for the game of baseball.

Somewhere in America, a minor-league baseball player has a day off.  He’s 30-something, with a wife and two kids.  After spending the morning with them, he’ll go work some extra hours at his second (maybe even his third) job.  He may never make it to the big leagues, but he gladly works two jobs so that he can support his family if it means he can play the game he loves for a few more years.

Somewhere in America, a little league coach is holding a practice for his summer team.  He takes time off from work to volunteer with 11 and 12 year olds and impart his knowledge of the game.  He used to love to play the game when he was younger, and hopes that he can help these kids love to play just as much.

Somewhere in America, some teenagers are playing a pickup basketball game.  One of them has the dubious distinction of being picked last.  He’s certainly not the most athletically gifted of the bunch, but tries his best, and contributes to his team.  Later, when everyone else has gone home, he stands alone on the court shooting free throws.  He has no other motivation than his own desire to improve and his love of the game.  Maybe next time, he won’t be picked last.

These stories are all very different, but the motivation of the athletes and mentors is the same.  There are no salaries, signing bonuses, or endorsement contracts, in fact some of these players probably had to pay dues just to participate.  All of these characters are motivated only by their love of the game and of its competition.  Many professional athletes once shared that motivation with those depicted here, they just need to be reminded.