As you watch these gifted athletes perform in the final game of the 2021-22 NCAA men’s basketball season (Yes, Alice, March Madness is finally over!) and marvel at their athleticism, you begin to wonder if they really appreciate their God-given talents. If you’ve been around athletes as long as I have, you have seen all levels of athletes, unless you have not been a close-up witness to the Special Olympics.

It was the mid-1970s when Teresa Brown called to invite me to be a celebrity presenter and hand out medals at the California Special Olympic Summer Games to be held at UCLA. It was an invitation I was honored to accept. When I drove into my UCLA parking place at about 9 a.m. that first day, I was surprised to see several hundred athletes already warming up for their events. Athletes of all ages, sizes and shapes were sprinting, running the hurdles, and every track and field event one could imagine. And that’s not all as they played softball, had swimming and diving events and with a wonderful spirit. After several years of being part of these summer games, I was invited to join the CSO Board of Directors.

The closer I got and longer I watched the more I wondered how God decided to place his giftedness in some and not in others. However, to these special athletes, they seemingly never questioned that but just continued to accept what God did give them. Their spirit of competition was a sight to behold.

In the men’s high jump — yes, some special competitors were in their 40s — the competition ended with (you guessed it) the “final four.” As this competition was closing down, one of the finalists missed on his second-to-last jump attempt. His competitor ran up to him as that finalist was dejected about his miss. He hugged him (these athletes are big on hugs) and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll make it next time.” This was his competition urging him not to give up! Never give up!

Then I watched Evelyn climb the ladder of that 10-foot diving board and hold onto the side rails as she walked to the end of the board. I wondered why she had to hold onto the side rails. She then performed a beautiful swan dive. Tears trickled down my cheeks when I learned she was blind. What courage!

Will you always remember to appreciate whatever talents you have been given?

The Masters Tournament is coming up next week, played where it only can be played at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, from April 7 through Sunday, April 10. This golf tournament announced by the voice of CBS Sports, Jim Nantz, is as he says, “unlike any other.” From personal experience I can truly say it is, indeed, unlike any other, and beyond. I have had the privilege of playing courses worldwide, and, without demeaning other wonderful golf courses — Augusta National is truly unlike any other. There are dozens of wonderful stories that come out of  Augusta.

Here’s one that I like: “Are you crying? Are you crying? There’s no crying in baseball” shouts Manager Jimmy Dugan (played by Tom Hanks in the movie “A League of Their Own”) to player Evelyn Gardner’s (played by Bitty Schram) outpouring. But there can be crying in sports as evidenced by Bubba Watson’s outpouring when he won the 2012 Masters — some 10 years ago.

Bubba hit an awesome shot from the deepest rough about 164 yards to land within 10 feet of the pin on the 10th green during the second playoff hole in the 76th playing of that 2012 Masters. He then two-putted to win! Bubba had lost his father to throat cancer 18 months earlier. And just two weeks before that tournament, he and his wife Angie had adopted their first child, Caleb. His emotions were sky-high.

With tears streaming down his face, Bubba avoided the customary handshakes and proceeded to hug everyone allowed on that 10th green starting with his mom, Molly. Bubba loves the game of golf and plays it at the professional level just for that reason — for fun! Sure, he plays to win — as he will this April but treats his competition as fellow competitors, not enemies. Track that scene with this, plus one of Sergio Garcia, a Spaniard, walking off the 18th green with fellow competitor, Rory McIlroy, an Irishman, arms around each other. Garcia ended up with a 286, 8 strokes behind Bubba, and McIlroy — an early tournament favorite — at 293, 15 strokes back.

Were Garcia and McIlory disappointed in their 2012 Masters performance? Of course, but they were able to keep their competitiveness in perspective. Bubba’s celebration continued with a 400-mile drive from Augusta that night to be with his wife and baby. He got three hours of sleep and got up early Monday morning to feed Caleb. Bubba typifies that golf is just a four-letter word G*A*M*E and needs to be kept in that context. But crying — well, crying is OK.

Will you keep your game or anything else you do in perspective of your life’s real goal?