A few days ago I was prancing around my house pretending I was Kobe throwing down dunks and dominating with a refined back to the basket game. When I tripped over a tennis racket, I literally came crashing back down to reality. I was no longer Kobe Bryant, I was Ryan Sidhoo; the man on the floor wondering who leaves a tennis racket and tennis bag in the middle of the hallway?
If you answered a USD tennis player, you answered correctly. It has been a very interesting experience living with student athletes. I currently find myself living with two tennis players. The Norwegian pretty boy Nils Schive and the outlandish perennial WCC first teamer Dean Jackson from Germany are the ones who split rent with me.
There are some major perks living with athletes. And by major I mean I have gotten some free Nike socks. Also, the free WCC blankets have really come in handy as blinds for the living room window and the abundance of sports tape has come up clutch over the year.
Oatmeal and protein powder have become staples in our house. If there were only two items in the cabinet, I would assure you it would be these two fine products. My knowledge of tennis, a sport that I was somewhat familiar with, has gone from minute to great. I realize how important the mechanics of the game are. I also hear amusing tidbits and rumors about tennis stars through Dean.
Besides having an effect on my diet and helping further appreciate the game of tennis, living with these two has allowed me to get an in-depth look at the rigors of being a student athlete. I am not sure if I could handle practicing twenty hours a week and driving to tournaments on the weekend, all on top of studying for exams and going to class.
Sometimes I see how exhausted my roommates become and wonder, do they really love the game this much to put up with the hectic schedule? Are they just in too deep and have invested too much time to simply get out? Sometimes I feel like they envy the freedom I have as a regular college student.
In a weird way, I almost feel like I am a part of the team. Sometimes I will text Nils before a big match reminding him to stay focused and maintain his composure. If he wins, I credit my inner Phil Jackson Zen coaching wisdom. If he loses, I feel like I lose as well since I have forged such a close bond with him. I think me and about four other people are die hard Torero tennis fans.
Even though I may occasionally trip on a tennis bag or pair of shoes, the experience of living with these two players has made me appreciate the effort and determination of USD athletes that much more.
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