As I write this, it is Monday morning in Chicago. The coffee tastes a little better. The air feels a little crisper. The Chicago Bears won this weekend, and for the first time in a long time, the city is letting itself believe.
Maybe. Just maybe.
But if you are a Chicago sports fan, you know that hope comes with a side dish of terror. We are constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop—the double-doink, the interception, the heartbreak. By the time you read this, we might be booking flights to the Super Bowl, or we might be doing the classic Chicago “there’s always next year.”
But here is the difference between sitting on the couch and standing in the batter’s box: A fan survives on hope. An athlete survives on preparation.
As we watch the playoffs unfold, here is how to take that “Big Game Energy” and apply it to your own training at The Batter’s Den.
Spectators Worry. Players Work.
Right now, Bears fans are nervous because we have zero control over the outcome. We can wear our lucky jerseys and yell at the TV, but we can’t throw the pass or make the tackle. Lack of control breeds anxiety.
As an athlete, you are not a spectator in your own career.
When you feel that “pit in your stomach” before a tryout or a big game, ask yourself: Have I done the work? Anxiety usually comes from knowing you cut corners. Confidence comes from knowing you didn’t. If you’ve put in the reps in the cage and the mobility work on the floor, you don’t have to “hope” you perform. You just trust your training.
“Grin and Bear It” (Embracing the Pressure)
We jokingly say we have to “grin and bear it” when things get stressful. But in sports, stress is actually a privilege.
The Bears are under immense pressure right now. Do you know who isn’t under pressure? The teams that went 4-13 and are sitting at home.
When you are standing in the on-deck circle with the winning run on second base, your heart rate is going to spike. You might feel that same apprehension you feel watching a playoff game. Good. That means you are in a moment that matters. Don’t wish the nerves away; use them. That adrenaline is fuel for your bat speed—if you channel it correctly.
Process Over Super Bowls
Here is the hard truth: The Bears might lose next week. (Please, no).
Does that mean the season was a failure? Does that mean the training didn’t matter?
In youth and high school sports, we often get paralyzed by the fear of the bad outcome. What if I strike out? What if I make an error?
If you focus entirely on the “Super Bowl” (the end result), you will play tight and scared. Great athletes focus on the Process.
- The Fan says: “We have to win this game.”
- The Athlete says: “I have to win this pitch.”
If you win enough pitches, the game takes care of itself.
The Bottom Line
Enjoy the ride, Chicago. Scream at the TV. Celebrate the wins. But when it’s time to grab your bat and walk into The Den, leave the “fan” mindset at the door.
Fans hope for the best. Athletes prepare for it.
Let’s get to work.