I watch a lot of sport. Like a lot. I love how athletes commit themselves to something that has no real longevity, after all an athlete’s career, for most  of them anyway, is a short one. It’s probably why I get invested in individual players more than teams or franchises. You see, a team can stand the testimony of time. It has a history and an organisation, under the correct construction, can live a very long life. Athletes cannot. In the grand scheme of things their time in any sport is just a spec on the development of the game as a whole. That’s why we have greats and hall of famers, these are the people who made a significant impact, becoming something that will never be forgotten.

 

 

Rarely though, do you ever get to see an athlete become vulnerable and really show how their mentality is affected by how they compete. Being really into the fight game, and since the massive rise in popularity with the UFC, a fighter’s physical and mental health is now being of more concern than ever. I mean in reality, no single person can walk in or out of the fight game, engage in that much physical trauma and not have any repercussions to any extent afterwards. It’s a tough life, and it’s dangerous to lead. I think that’s why they are so respected, and why their impact is so valued.

 

One of the greatest UFC fighters of all time, and still a massive draw to this day is former light heavyweight Champion, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. A true athlete, Jones was the youngest ever UFC champion and was apart of many memorable matches in his active years. Still a fighter to this day, the only thing that tarnishes his mark on the game is his life outside of the octagon. Partying, drugs and an unfortunate hit and run incident derailed his great career and now, under a year long ban, sits on the sidelines as he watches countless other fighters compete and fight another man that holds his belt.

 

In a podcast with Joe Rogan, Jones explained what was going through his head through all of this, the regret he felt and the processes he underwent to still maintain his championship run whilst also being in the middle of a very messy lifestyle.

Now we all know that discipline and hard work are all the determining factors when striving for greatness in any aspect of life, but I was more surprised to find out that a week before his fight with Alexander Gustafsson, one of the toughest and most memorable fights in UFC history, he was out partying. This was a fight he had won, by the way.

 

It was interesting to hear how his lifestyle fit with his fighting, and to some was a testimony to how great he was, to others exemplified a true waste of talent. The main thing that stuck more than anything was how good he would’ve been if he kept the discipline, if he stuck to his schedule and concentrated on the fight ahead instead of getting smashed and having a good time.

 

Jones’ logic however was something that shows true vulnerability even in one of the most elite athletes in the fight game.

He said that if he had ended up losing that fight, he could blame it on the partying and pardon himself for not winning at all. He had created a safety net.

 

No matter what you say, this is probably one of the saddest things people can do to themselves. To throw themselves into a bad situation, to escape all the pressure and the commitment of being apart of something so huge and to create something that can put a relief on it all, is truly one of the most unfortunate things any person, not just athlete, can do.

 

We create these safety measures to keep out the demons, to make sure that we’re ok with ourselves. And yes, it can work…but when you imagine yourself in that situation, with that much pressure, that safety net is the only thing that keeps your sanity, and at times is the only reason many great people cling onto their worlds without losing touch of who they are.

 

IN Jones’ case, it was bad way of dealing with a tough situation, and is in no way inexcusable. But realising that even the most gifted people in this world are vulnerable to pressure, is a way we can truly empathise with them and come the conclusion that we are all, in all aspects of life,  human.