I saw a video, the other day, of a 6’10” basketball player. He is 12-years-old! What struck me was the hateful comments that accompanied the post. This is typical of our response when we perceive someone to have an “unfair advantage”.
Does a 6’10” basketball player have an advantage? Of course, this is the case at all levels of the sport. Is it unfair? Only to the one who perceives himself to be disadvantaged.
Giftedness is not an unfair advantage. It is an opportunity. What his young man does or does not do with his gift is his business. (One comment on the post of the video was something to the effect of “wait until the other boys catch up to him and see how good he is.” Seriously?? How many are those boys going to “catch up” with a 6’10” person??)
Rather than see advantages as “unfair”, we should celebrate them. The boys coaches and parents should make sure that his gifts are developed. In many ways, being 6’10” at the age of 12 years is a “disadvantage” to the boys long-term skill development. He does not have to jump or develop some of the necessary skills that will most help him compete that the highest levels. The advantage often goes to the person who has to work just a little harder to overcome another’s “unfair advantage”.
No one should ever be made to feel guilty for his or her naturally-endowed talents and physical abilities. Rather they should be celebrated as blessed and helped to develop their gifts.
If anyone feels “unfairly disadvantaged”, he or she needs to consider his or her grattitude and examine the options: 1) quit, 2) try harder, or 3) reexamine his or her own opportunities. Each of us is (extra)ordinary in our own way. Being jealous or angry at another’s giftedness is counter-productive. We each need to discover our own “unfair advantage” and utilize it. Stop crying about life being “unfair”.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
Image: https://brobible.com/sports/article/oliver-rioux-dominating-basketball/