Integrity on Wheels

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I was playing mall rat with a boy I mentor, whose only wholesome interest is skateboarding. I think he actually aspires to the skater’s lifestyle more than the actual sport itself.

We entered Zoomeez (forgive me for misspelling-funny it didn’t appear in my dictionary) a “skater’s” clothing and equipment store, when we met the young man pictured, named Jeff DuPaul. Jeff was really friendly in a non-mall-salesman kind of way and we struck up a conversation.

Jeff is a BMX-er who has performed professionally in tournaments and some ESPN televised exhibitions. As we continued to talk, Jeff mentioned recovering from a recent injury while participating in this extreme sport. I asked him about the earning potential for BMX riders, and he smiled and said it is almost nonexistent. He explained that those who sought the opportunity to make this sport part of a financial career were looked down upon as prostituting themselves and forsaking the integrity and passion for the sport itself.

I found myself battling alternate views on Jeff’s explanation. The dad within me said, “What, are you crazy? You injure yourself in this sport, you won’t be physically able to do in less than 10 years, but you don’t want to make money doing it? You’re working retail in a mall for God’s sake!” The romantic artist within was screaming, “Bravo! You have integrity; my God hold onto it, and to your passion, rather than chasing the almighty buck. The trophy is looking yourself in the mirror and knowing you didn’t make your choice to sell out, but rather for the passion of your craft.”

The thing is I think both opinions are really valid and true. Life isn’t simple enough to throw away either point of view. On the one hand Jeff has probably done some permanent damage to his body for the love of the game. Shouldn’t he be seeking financial retribution for his contribution to the sport? Isn’t it also true that most professional sports have been ruined by mercenaries who are strictly chasing the cheddar, with only a few true passionate players who would do it for nothing?

There is no easy answer, but I will tell you that this young man has character to spare and he makes me hopeful. We are not completely in the toilet as a society while we still have guys like Jeff DuPaul around.