You’re at a baseball game and the center fielder is chasing a ball rocketing for the wall.
Just when you think it’s going be a double, he jumps into the air, slams against the wall and catches the ball.
"Wow," is all that you can say.
Then this thought flickers across your mind: “Maybe I could have done that.”
This scenario, be it a fly ball in baseball or a match-saving swing in tennis, is the essence of what makes being a fan enjoyable.
However, since we’re all human, our egos can trick us into thinking we can perform at the same level as sports stars.
Isn’t that slightly ridiculous?
The reason we’re not on the field, other than genetics, is the time and preparation the athlete has dedicated to the sport.
As the athlete, it’s their job to master the minute details that make their physical feats look easy.
With all the hard work players put into their game, it’s no wonder their achievements look so effortless that the average fan sitting in the bleachers thinks he or she can do it, too.
Reach the reporter at dkmcinty@asu.edu
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