I spent almost all of my days as a competitive athlete in a position where all the other players were in my field of vision.

From the age of 10 until I gave up baseball at 20, I was a catcher. I spent my entire career in foul territory, observing the other players in fair, the entire diamond before me.

In basketball I was what we now call a “point guard.” As I brought the ball up court, the other nine players were in front of me.

As a high school and college football player, I was a defensive safety. No one was to get behind me; and at every snap, 21 other players were in my field of vision.

I’ve always known that participation in sports shaped very much of my character; but only recently – nearer the end of my professional career than to the start – am I seeing the whole field and appreciating the fullness of that influence. For example:

• To be the one who asks for the fast ball or curve. Or the change-up when it’s needed.
• To be the one who sets up each play and delivers the pass to get it started. And watching others score.
• To be the one who makes the tackle when no one else is left to do so.
• And most of all, to see the whole field; to see all of one’s teammates and observe how they all are indispensable to a winning performance.