Second on, my Fever are in the playoffs!
Now: Second Cousin Brian and I enjoy sports. We enjoy sports banter even more! One way we can compare and contrast previous, current, and future athletes is by their hardware. The accolades they collect throughout their careers. Whether that is Championships, MVPs, First Team All Whatever, Medals, or whatever else they could obtain the point is athletes get noticed and rewarded for superior performances rising above the rest. But what about the other 99% of the world? We certainly don't get any MVPs or Championships for just being normal everyday people. Or do we? Hmmm.......
As all 100,000 of you are well aware my best friend Jake Richards got married this past June 3rd (Brian's 23rd Birthday). But what some of you may not know is that I was the best man in that wedding. Yes that is correct, of all the men Jake knows he selected me as the best. This got me thinking and it finally hit me: Being the Best Man in someones wedding is the equivalent of a friend MVP. To take it one step further Being in the wedding party of your friend is the honorable mention or first team all friends of regular life. And finally getting married is the friend championship.
You see not just anyone can become the Best Man at a wedding, likewise not just anyone gets the MVP award in sports. It takes dedication, practice, commitment, hard work, and sacrifice. It takes a lot to win multiple MVPs because of all the work that goes into it. Usually one can only dedicate themselves to one very deep and strong friendship ending in a Best Man nod. And not everyone has a friend MVP award. Now this doesn't mean that they aren't a good friend sometimes life just deals you some bad cards or you were around during the “Jordan 90's” where one dominate friend ruled the marriage era of your circle of friends. Needless to say your friend life isn't defined by a Best Man award but like any trophy it is a public acknowledgment of your hard work and success.
Being in someone's wedding party is still not necessarily the most common thing but it certainly isn't as exclusive as the MVP award. Groomsmen are like the 'first team all friend' guys. Since there can only be one BEST man but you still have some awesome dudes in your crew this lets them know they aren't just anybody to you. Like in sports this helps weed out the Pros from the Joes. Sure you may be a professional athlete but are you in the All-Star game? This is where friends will probably win multiple awards throughout their life and it is a huge honor. Again not every athlete is an All-Star.
Lastly the friend championship. Just like in any professional sport the champion is awarded with a ring. Or in golf it's a jacket...(either way you're getting both for the wedding) Marriage is your friend championship. You wear that ring with pride to let everyone know you are a champion and you've found a friend who you want to spend the rest of your life with and don't want to be away from. Again not everyone gets the friend championship. And on the other end some even win multiple rings. But just like in sports once you are a champion it is forever (or till death do you part).
To put this theory to the test I give you exhibit A: Travis Smith
Travis has won multiple MVPs and even more Honorable Mentions. He has yet to win a ring although annalists predict he will get one before retirement. As I look at his very impressive hardware and all before the age of 24 I reflect on his friendship with me and I have to admit he has made a very good case for honorable mention. Who's my MVP? Psh hands down it's Jake, It's his to lose and I just don't see it happening.
As for myself I have a single MVP which I am very grateful for. But I am projected to have multiple All-Star appearances before I retire. In fact I've been informed by my brother that I've clinched an All-Star appearance.
Just like in any award ceremony the champion (bride) gets the gold medal (ring) and stands on the highest podium then followed by the MVP (best man) and then the first team (groomsmen).
so... what's your trophy case look like?
