Row the Boat

Chapter 1The Man Behind the Boat

P.J. Fleck

 

The Hard Way

Growing up as a runt on the block always seemed like an uphill challenge. Little did I know that the “underdog” way of life was paving the way for what I would need to succeed in a career that humbles and challenges the proudest and strongest of men. The chip on my shoulder started when I was young and eventually turned into a crack. I didn't feel I had to prove to anyone else that I could achieve my own dreams; rather, it was more that I had to prove to myself that I was everything I said I wanted to be.

I have always been referred to as the “King of the Toos.” Too small, too short, too slow, too young, too inexperienced, and on and on—any kind of “too” you can think of, I've probably heard it. This kind of label makes people do two different things: run and forget, or play and prove. I chose to play and prove. My dad, Phil, always knew I was going to be an underdog with an undersized frame who would have to prove my worth on the sports field. My dad is 5-foot-5 and was a boxer in his youth. Whenever I would come home from shooting hoops or throwing the baseball or any other athletic endeavor, he would ask, “Are you done?” When I told him yes, he would reply, “Well, that's fine, but don't forget, there is always someone out there taking one more rep than you just did.” Early on he was instilling in me that my path ...