Waking up to Simone Biles leaving the Olympic Gymnastics Arena was a difficult moment for me, let alone for her. I cannot imagine what was happening to her both mentally and physically as she made the decision to step out of the team competition. The fight. The grit. The determination of Simone over the last several years has not only been superhuman but incredibly noble. But everyone has a breaking point. Although athletes make it look easy, the pain and difficulty is real and cannot be overlooked.
Life is hard. Control what you can control. Accept what you can’t. Be kind. Open your heart. Laugh. Invest in yourself. This is the kind of self talk that needs to happen because it is not easy to compete at the level that Biles, the Yankees, or any other competitive athlete is expected to compete at and bring home the reward. Early mornings. Late evenings. Workouts. Nutrition. Focus. Discipline. This is the routine. And sometimes you have to step away. And you know what, that's okay.
Clint Frazier has been on the IL list since July 1st. He is currently going through neurological testing for dizziness, perhaps vision issues. Is it physical or psychological or both? Earlier this season, Yankees first baseman Luke Voit underwent surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his left knee and later on he went out with a strained oblique before his current left knee inflammation. Do these injuries weigh on your psyche? You bet they do. And do the teammates feel the pain? Are they impacted by the missing presence in the clubhouse? Yes.
How much do the media add salt to the wounds of these athletes? By putting so much pressure on athletes like Naomi Osaka or even Katie Ledecky, are they putting these athletes at a disadvantage? They cannot carry their sport, their team or their country on their shoulders. It is just too much to ask. When commentators criticize the way athletes compete, I wonder how they would feel to have so much criticism placed on them?
I have been hard on the Yankees this season. I would like them to play flawlessly. I mean, don't you? But so much pressure on Gerrit Cole to strike out 20, on Aaron Judge to hit 40 home runs and the bull pen to close out every game without an earned run is not realistic. And maybe it is time to just give it a rest and just enjoy the game for the love of it. As the trade deadline approaches, let's hope that the Yankees front office finds the right players to support their team, both physically and mentally. Wellness, both physical and mental, is just as important as winning.
I wish Simone Biles nothing but success as she battles through her mental competition with herself. If she decides to compete I am with her and if she decides to step away, I am with her too. And if the Yankees don't have it this season, I am there for them next season, and the season after that. Because a fan is a fan. You don't give up on your athletes. And you don't give up on your team, ever.
--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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