CrossFit Athletic Group

I suppose it's no use trying to claim we aren't a soccer gym now; it appears even the youngest in our ranks have been infected, the latest being Johnny J, the Champions Club official mascot and fan-favorite of the Babies session.

Johnny J is currently in his first year of playing organized soccer - "organized" in the same sense how all the stuff in your neighbor Bob's garage is technically in the same confined location but does not have any specific purpose for being there and could cause a disaster at any moment. At this level of soccer, there is no goalie and there is no official score being kept. It's all about learning the absolute basics of any sport: knowing which way to go and which way not to, knowing who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, and getting as much physical activity as possible.

Johnny J, however, has some big shoes to fill: El, JT, and Natalie have already shown a lot of talent on the soccer field this early in their careers and this weekend Johnny J found himself with the soccer ball in his possession, no bad guys in front of him, a ref unwilling to call offsides, and a 4x6' box completely unoccupied.

First off, this video embedded in a very strange format, almost as if it is meant to be viewed on some futuristic device in the shape of a vertical rectangle. Sorry about that fellas.

Secondly, we gotta give it up for Natalie: "He's gonnna miss for sure." I'm down with a healthy dose of bullying.

Thirdly, FOX actually had Johnny J mic'd up for this game and, while I'm not allowed to share the audio recording, Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt have given me permission to transcribe what Johnny was saying during the play.

Whoooaaaaa!

Oops! I just shot it!

Mr. Carey says follow my shot!

Hey! A soccer ball! I like these!

I'm going to kick now, can't remember the last time I did that!

Huuaahhhh!

Mr. Carey says follow my shot!

This is so freaking cool I'm just going to jump like this!

...........

The lowest point of my basketball career was airballing a potential game-winning shot in overtime against Shrine, and the effects of that incident lasted took me a few games to snap out of. Confidence is probably my biggest vulnerability in general, and I've been working hard recently to challenge the things that erode it.

One of the things I've learned - and is supported by what I've observed - is that little kids are born with confidence as a default; they'll sing miserably at the top of their lungs, run around ass-naked, try things they aren't good at, and wear whatever the hell they want, so long as they feel safe doing it.

All until someone says something.

That someone could be a parent, a classmate, brother or sister, or even themselves. "Stop singing, it sounds bad." "Put on some clothes!" "Here, let me do that for you." Those repeated reps of dissuasion serve as the beginning of confidence breakers.

Johnny J doinked two wide open shots and jumped around like he was in Camp Randall. He is literally my role model right now.