Foundational Fridays -- Appreciating Achievements

Here.We.Go. I am postured and prepared for people to push back on this post. There will be readers who will inject, what about Pearl Moore? "Pistol" Pete Maravich set the all-time Division I college basketball scoring record in just three years playing and, in his era, there was no three-point basket. Caitlin has played for four seasons. Her setting the all-time scoring record, assuming she passes Pete, likely in her next game, is going to come with asterisk. She hasn't won a National College Championship. Iowa is a good team, maybe great, but not in the top five right now, and so on.

I didn't know who Caitlin Clark was until March Madness last year. I enjoy watching college basketball more than the pros. In part, one thing I generally love about college sports is, the vast majority of the players are finishing their playing careers, and they know it. There will be no next level for them.

Others, in fact, many others are better athletes and will get to play in the professional leagues. Because they know this, many, if not most, college athletes savor their sport, their time with teammates, and having "one last" opportunity to play in front of a crowd. That spirit shows and makes the games more entertaining and engaging to watch. Here forward, if they play at all, it might only be intramural leagues or pick-up games at the local gym.

The joy Caitlin expresses in this quote, and gives during games, is what is sometimes missing in the pros. When we know we're in the twilight of an era, there is of course sadness, but also allows for real joy when we focus on en-JOY-ing the moments, memories, and milestones.

Sure, Patrick Mahomes has lots of expressed joy of late. He should; he's likely at the apex of his career and is achieving amazing accolades right now. He keeps beating my beloved Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. I don't like that at all. But I can appreciate his greatness. He's the best quarterback in the National Football League across the past several years. He's playing at a level above and apart from most other players, not just quarterbacks right now.

Same with Caitlin Clark. I watched the Iowa-Minnesota game earlier this week when she broke past the points record set by Lynette Woodard four decades ago. Other than sport highlights, I'd never seen her play. She was simply fun and fantastic to watch. Caitlin is on fire right now. She's amassing one accolade and achievement after another. She's living in, and loving, these moments.

She may not lead Iowa back the National Championship game again this year (they were the runner-up last year). It doesn't matter. That won't "tarnish" what she's accomplished. In sport, as in every other personal or professional endeavor, we can, and should, stop to appreciate and admire achievements. We should do so without asterisk, adjustments, or animus.

We're human. Sometimes it is jealousy over joy for others. I'm guilty of this myself. Over the years, I have learned to appreciate what others achieve, even if they are beating me in the process. Caitlin's moment is simply a reminder to find goodness in celebrating the greatness of others. As the title to this piece presents, we should appreciate achievements, no matter to whom they are accounted.