The Maturation of J Reed: Vol. 5

Playing quarterback in the passing league was as challenging as it was fun. For every good pass I threw, there were like 5 that were horrible. But as bad as I was at the position, my teammates still expressed confidence in me. Partly because there wasn't really anybody else to play the position(lol).
Right before the start of my 10th grade season, I was as confident as I had ever been up to that point in my life. My wardrobe was enhanced slightly, I was about to be the starting quarterback of my varsity high school football team, and I was ready to start school and see what everybody's view of me was.
I learned quickly that the pressure of the quarterback position was worth the acclaim and popularity. The position is so glamorized because of the huge amount of responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of the person that occupies it. I never felt pressure like that. At least not up that point of my life. I would hear people in the stands yelling for me to "hang up my cleats." I'm pretty sure that they knew that I was out of position, but they could've cared less. I was the quarterback of the team and the scapegoat.
On the contrary, the plan was somewhat of a success as far as school went. I was cool with people all over the school. Especially since that year there was an influx of students that came from Paul Jr. High to start the 10th grade at Coolidge. They weren't there for 9th grade, so they didn't see me as the "DKNY rockin' bamma" that some of the other students did. That was cool with me because I was a lil tired of being ridiculed. Girls that were new to the school that weren't familiar with my fashion woes judged me strictly on my attitude, personality, and athletic ability.
That year I showed flashes of greatness on the football field, but my year was loomed largely by mediocrity. I guess that's why the coaches decided midway through the year that a 2 quarterback system would probably be best for the team. This was a blow to my confidence but back then I was a "whatever for the team" type of player (actually I still am). So I took it with a grain of salt knowing that I would still be used in some capacity.
That football season ended with us losing about 6 games, which was still the best season we had had in awhile. But something at the end of the season didn't sit right with me. All of my teammates that were set to graduate, were very upset that we weren't as competitive as they felt we should have been. Even though they never admitted it, I think they secretly blamed me for the way the season turned out. This was a blow to me at the time because I felt like I sacrificed gaining experience at my natural position to help out the team. I was so down about the attitudes that they displayed, that I made it up in my mind that I would abandon the position the following season.
I wanted to keep my popularity up (lol at how much of a loser I was) so I decided that I would join the basketball team right after the season was over. I figured it was a great way to stay in shape also. I realized something while playing on the basketball team: People around the city, not just in my school, knew who I was. I was shocked by this. Who would've thought that my decision to play quarterback would give me notoriety around the city. Obviously this was a boost to my confidence. I remember one player from Eastern High School asked me was I playing in the All-Star game that year. When I told him I was only a 10th grader, his jaw hit the floor. He said, "Man you have 2 more years to play, you better go to the league (NFL)." I was proud of comments like those that I received. It had me feeling a different way about myself. But something I did at the end of my 10th grade year almost put me square in the spotlight of ridicule once more...