Quicksand in Athletics

In the film, "The Replacements", Gene Hackman asked his team of replacement players what they feared the most about playing professional football. One of the responses was "quicksand." Quicksand, as described by Keanu Reeves in the film, is what every athlete fears most - that helpless feeling of compounding one mistake after another, sinking deeper and deeper until you’re in over your head - like quicksand.

In the recent NCAA Final Four Basketball Playoffs, both UCLA and North Carolina experienced that feeling of being in quicksand. The teams played hard, each battled to within striking distance only to be pushed back at every turn. Neither team shot well nor seemed to catch a break but continued to fight. Both Memphis and Kansas played fearless for the entire game creating a feeling of concern and even panic in the minds of their opponents. As a result, opposing players began to try too hard, do too much, take the game on themselves, while others silently disappeared or became ineffective to the point where they added to their own demise.

Everyone makes mistakes, anyone can have a bad day or a bad game. The true test of being in quicksand, is how one handles it. UCLA and North Carolina displayed courage and class both during and after their games.(more than can be said for the sports writers who carved them up the next day to sell paper.) Both programs will learn from this experience and this setback will only make them stronger.

Quicksand can be experienced at every level and in every sport. The secret to overcoming it is to relax, stay within yourself, believe in your abilities and your teammates. The more one struggles the deeper one will sink. Remember, one game (good or bad) does not define a team or a player but one game can reveal, as well as build, character.