Baseball teams that are destined to be winners are those players which live and believe The Three Musketeers motto. As my brother Bailey allows the story to unfold I'm sure you can agree his telling of Alexandre Dumas' classic is an appropriate parallel to win at baseball, "It must be Team." See if you agree. ALL FOR ONE
ONE FOR ALL Reading, Riting and Ritmetic; we can all associate with getting a good education. These skills are a must for the majority of people to make a success in life. But, as for me, I think a little daydreaming and use of analogies as I tread thru the pages have helped me a great deal in my reading skills and have definitely added a lot more pleasure. Reading to me is a lot like a double feature movie. Yes sere, two flicks for the price of one. Its kind of like adding a little hot sauce to your barbecue. You know its going to be good just as it is, but with the addition of a little spice it is more appealing to my palate. When you enjoy it you are just naturally going to keep on going back for more. Likewise in reading we turn the pages with enthusiasm in suspense as to what is going to unfold next from the writers mind. I love sports and most especially baseball. Its amazing but sometimes while reading or watching something on television or at the movies I pick up certain things that I associate with my love of sports. Now hear me out. It may sound strange, but its true. The following is an example of what Im talking about. I have many more analogies that I could share, but for today bear with me and read just this one little example and see what you think about Serendipity. Alexandre Dumas romantic novel The Three Musketeers which was written in 1844 about 17th century France is a masterpiece. This novel is a work of art about three devoted Musketeers who served to protect King Louis XIII and the Country of France and the government from being overthrown by an evil plot by the scheming Cardinal Richelieu. Richelieu, a permanent high positioned official had The Musketeers disbanded to weaken the Kings protective force. Ultimately, The Cardinals scheme ultimately was to establish an alliance with Britain. Included in this devious plan by The Cardinal was the murder of King Louis XIII. Upon the Kings death Cardinal Richelieu would ascend to the throne and become King of France in the alliance agreement with Britain. This is a swashbuckling story about three of the best of the disbanded Musketeers who are joined by a fourth want to be Musketeer swordsman whose father had previously served in the Kings service as a Musketeer. I will not go into a lot more detail of this classic, but If you read it to the end you can expect a win win experience and most likely will feel like the home team has knocked one out of the park in the bottom of the ninth to win the game. As the plot unraveled in the novel, some being factually based history and other being legend, according to my understanding made for me some very enjoyable reading. This book was a double whammy for me in that I along with enjoying and being intrigued by the authors plot I was able to intertwine my love of sports and see the spirit of athleticism being unveiled to me at the same time. Take for instance the motto of The Kings Musketeers being ONE FOR ALL and ALL FOR ONE is the same that should be for our athletes of old and todays modern athlete. A baseball player worth his salt knows that his individual talents are not nearly enough to win the coveted pennant, even though at times he may win the game. The truly great player plays for his teammates, coaches and fans and draws his strength from their support. So its this intangible force that makes a player great and is able to produce and bring about greatness in his teams efforts and then rightfully receive the spoils of victory for his valiant and unselfish playing ethics. So as Dumas penned it and the great athletes play it out its ONE FOR ALL and ALL FOR ONE. Another area in the book that I could relate to baseball and other sports was in the character of DArtagnan the son of a deceased Musketeer and who had a burning desire to become a Musketeer himself. Rather than practice with ball, glove and bat he used the sword. As with the ball player he had to develop his skills with the sword if he was ever to reach his dream of being one of the Kings Musketeers and serve his beloved country of France as his father had done before. Well as the plot unfolds he along with the Three Musketeers saved the Kings life and prevented the evil Cardinal Richelieu from overthrowing the French government. For his bravery, allegiance to King and Country, accompanied with his excellent skills with the sword he was awarded his hearts desire. In reading the novel I recognized the common thread that binds the Musketeers strategies to achieve and attain the heroic results were not individual, but a combined team effort. The game of baseball as it is in other sports, and as found in Dumas work, for the outcome of the players efforts to achieve their dreams there must be practice for perfection, skill, courage, perseverance, patience and of most importance is the willingness to be a team player. Alexandre Dumas said it best. I reference him here for all you athletes, workers whether in public or private service and family members to contemplate and put the thought into action if you have not done so already. CATCH THE SPIRIT. Its the call for living a more abundant and fulfilling life. As Jesus said Love Thy Neighbor as Thy Self. I can associate the Musketeer Motto by Dumas as having been derived from Christian Principles in the lives of Jesus and his disciples. Uh Oh, there I go again using that analogy theory in my reading style. ONE FOR ALL ALL FOR ONE Bailey Channell July 10, 2006 |
