***My name is Brandon Dukes and I've recently found a love for the game of tennis. To fully understand my story I must give you a little background information first. I'm 16 years old, I grew up as an aspiring football quarterback with a promising future. My dad was very happy as was I. Things got a little messed up and I was forced to quit football due to some coaches whom were very biased and treated me very poorly. At that point I thought my life was over, the one thing I loved and worked so hard at had been taken away and I was left very sad. The next month or so was depressing, seeing all my old football buddies and not being able to deal with school cause I didn't have that sport to lean on in the hard times. Now the guy who married my sister was a tennis player in high school who won state. The reason I changed my story so quick is because he is the reason I got out there and found a new love! I was so excited to play I could not get enough and was determined to be the best. My dad was not thrilled. In his era of growing up and his city it was odd of a man to play a feminine sport like tennis. His words not mine. To fast forward to present times I'll give you a brief summary of what went on. I started playing tennis last December (2012). My dad let me go to JD for a month or so and then said it was a complete waste of money so I was forced to stop. I tried out for the JV team at my school which has a very prestigious varsity that goes to state every year. I made the JV and long story short got third place in singles at JV districts. Things were great but I wasn't able to practice often. It was looking like I would be able to make the varsity team which practices 4 hours a day which would be a dream come true. I would love that set up. But I did not end up going to the try out because my dad always made comments about how embarrassing it was that I played tennis and I was wasting his money. I felt so guilty that I gave up tennis and went on to do nothing for a m***
Parents can be more destructive that sports, which can also be hurtful in some way. Sad to read that you were mistreated by the football coaches.
IMHO, tennis is MORE macho than football, particularly singles, because in singles, if you lose, there is nobody else to blame it on. Football is a team sport, controlled by the coaches. When a team loses, they can *share* the loss. See the difference?
You might tell your Dad that tennis is a lot like boxing, except you cannot actually hit the guy. Does he think boxing is feminine? It probably won't change his mind, though.
What is your Dad's opinion on serious brain damage that football players get, often coming down with Alzheimer's disease in their 30's or 40's? Is it cool, macho, etc to get Alzheimer's and become a vegetable for the rest of a football player's life?
Tennis has its problems, too, by the way. It is not perfect, not at all.
***But I did not end up going to the try out because my dad always made comments about how embarrassing it was that I played tennis and I was wasting his money.***
Did he actually say this? Wow, what a jerk. OTOH, if you made this whole thing up, then you at fault here.
***My dad let me go to JD for a month or so and then said it was a complete waste of money so I was forced to stop.***
What is "JD?" Your Dad sounds verbally abusive.
I hope you can escape his influence someday, and be on your own, *successfully.* Not an easy task, but something you can strive for. All the best :-)
:-)