There are times in sport, as in life, when reality collides with desire: when the physical and mental barriers standing between us and our dreams reveal themselves and dare to be breached. These moments arrive in an instant and retreat just as suddenly: a hard pick that jars the body, sending it crashing to the unforgiving asphalt; a screaming inside fastball that buzzes so close to the ear it sounds like a chainsaw; a bone-crushing hit that sends a player flying airborne out of bounds. After the scrapes and bruises are dolled out on us, we must make a choice: submit and fade away, or show our resolve. If people see obstacles as opportunities, they will be able to reach deep within their being and muster the will to topple any block. Showing passion, talent, heart, soul, love, rage, or simply a good old-fashioned set of cojones, means accepting a challenge and rising to meet it. In athletic achievement, degree of honor, scope of recognition, and level of personal satisfaction vary widely. Though, every contest, at its core, is a battle for respect. For an established professional, that reward translates to fame and fortune. For an unproven kid, a fist tap or a head nod signals affirmation on the fierce, gritty courts of his neighborhood, where praise is given only after it is pried loose. In order to master a craft, a man must rid himself of fear and use everything he has to excel and succeed. We do not all have the same natural abilities. We do not all have the same goals and aspirations. We do not all have the same pressures and burdens. However, we do all have an inner strength. Taking what makes us special and using it to make ourselves powerful is the essence of determination. The competition awaits. The tools are there. The question we must answer is: When given the chance to exhibit our true character, will we sho sum?