Age Really is Just a Number

In my double-decade long life, I have never, and for good reason, felt old. But when I went home over Easter this year, I felt old.

There are many things that contributed to my feelings of old age at 20. You know you are getting old when shows you grew up watching in television's prime time are now on Nickelodeon's Nick at Night. Thank you Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Full House. You also know you are getting old when popular cartoon series of your day are being re-created in a new digital format for a quick buck. Thank you for ruining the legend that is the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I also knew I was old by the things in my bedroom. Now, let's keep in mind that I am only two years removed from occupying this room full-time, but nonetheless, it is a time capsule. My walls are adorned with posters from every corner of the sports world. I have a Book-Store-bought pre-steroid Barry Bonds poster in which he is (realistically) a third of the size of his current self. I still look at that poster wishing I could kick my younger self's ass for ever putting that on my wall. I have Allen Iverson and Bret Favre SI for Kids rip-out posters, along with a Sabre-sweatered Dominick Hasek. Three stars that are well past their primes, but still continue to produce. A Kordell Stewart card hangs in a frame above my bed. A buzz-cut David Beckham on my wall displays my previous ignorance towards the game of soccer. The words "Heisman Hopeful" accompany a picture of former Pitt Panther and current Arizona Cardinal, Larry Fitzgerald above my bed as well. I idolized these athletes. As I get older, can I still worship these talented people?

Granted, these posters aren't any older than five years. But it just goes to show how quickly the sports landscape has changed in just a short period of time. When I was younger, it was normal to worship these athletes, because they were all older than me and had extraordinary talents. It is socially acceptable to look up to those that are older than you. Now that I am 20 years-old, I have begin to question the level at which I can celebrate these athletes, especially when these athletes are younger than I am.

Athletes are becoming stars at increasingly younger ages. Ask Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Michael Phelps, Amobi Okoye and Morgan Pressel. Just to name a few. At the age of 21, or younger all of those aforementioned athletes are contributing to their team's success or dominating their chosen sport. I find myself unable to worship these athletes like I worshipped athletes years ago, not because they are less talented, because they are certainly not lacking talent, but simply because they are my age, or younger.

Sidney Crosby was not just the first overall draft pick of two years ago, but also recently became the NHL's youngest Art Ross Trophy winner in the history of the NHL for most points scored during the regular season. Oh by the way, he's 19. His teammates include the NHL's shoe in for rookie of the year in 21 year-old Evgeni Malkin, and the youngest player in the NHL and league-leader in short handed goals with seven, 18 year-old Jordan Staal. These three youngsters have not only had great individual seasons, but also have their Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs for the first time in six years.

Much has been said regarding two of the greatest players college basketball in quite some time. Greg Oden and Kevin Durant are both 18, or recently turned 19, and college freshman. I was a college freshman last year, and for these kids to be accomplishing what they are is insane. Kevin Durant only swept every national player of the year award including the Wooden and the Naismith. He led his team to the finals of the Big 12 championship and to the second round of the NCAA tournament. He was the only player to finish in the top 10 in scoring and rebounding. He was second in the nation in double-doubles. He was Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Big 12 Player of the Year, and was named to the Big 12's All-Defensive Team. That's a lot. My fingers hurt...(insert Happy Gilmore quote here)...lets just say he's good.

Durant may be good, but he might not even be the first pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Seven-foot Ohio State center Greg Oden may receive that honor. Physically, Oden is an anomaly for his age, and so is that beard, but there is no mistaking his obvious talents. He played a large part in OSU's Big Ten Regular Season Championship as well as their Big Ten Tournament Championship. He also played a crucial role, to say the least, in the Buckeye's run to the final game of the NCAA tournament. Oden scored 25 points in that finals loss to Florida which is about 15 more points then I have ever scored in any basketball game in which I played.

At 21, Michael Phelps has participated in the Olympics, and recently dominated the World Championships winning seven gold medals (missing eight only because of a disqualification). Not only did he butterfly, backstroke and freestyle past his competition, he also broke several world records on his way to a record-tying seven gold medals. (Mark Spitz anyone?) Phelps is hands down the best swimmer in the world, and he still can't rent a car.

Amobi Okoye (I can spell it, but don't ask me to say it.) is a 19 year-old college graduate. Impressive in its own right, but did I mention that he is also a virtual lock as a first round draft pick in this year's NFL draft? This over-powering defensive lineman, who can apparently take snaps at either the nose or on the end, finished seventh grade by the age of ten. If he starts in an NFL game this coming season he will easily be the youngest player to ever play in the NFL. He will be good for the NFL's recent image problems for two reasons: 1) He's a smart, articulate young man who wants to be a role model and 2) He can't legally get into the night clubs and bars that are the site of so many legal issues for athletes.

Proving that young males are not the only young athletes proving their talents, Morgan Pressel became the youngest woman in LPGA history to win a major. This is Pressel's first year on the tour and she has made five career starts. Of those starts she finished in the top ten three times, including her major championship at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. I think someone needs to get her and Sid together only because someone needs to make a child capable of taking down Nomar and Mia's offspring.

These kids (and thats what they mostly are) are just as gifted as their adult competition, if not more. Realizing that at my age, these kids are accomplishing all that is listed above is outrageous. I am really in awe of their talent, but I find it incredible hard to worship these athletes as I once celebrated larger than life athletes. Maybe its because I'm older, and more mature and I realize that sports are not all that there is to life (although they may be). But then again maybe I can't celebrate these kids because they aren't old enough.

Sorry Sid, Jordan, Evgeni, Greg, Kev, Amobi, Mike, and Morgan, as much as I think you kids are incredible, my walls are full. Five years earlier and you might have immortalized yourself on my own walls of fame.