As I sit down to write this blog, I can’t help but think about my own upbringing—how the challenges I faced shaped who I am today. I was raised by a single parent, lived through homelessness, and didn’t have the things that other kids seemed to take for granted. I often looked around and wondered why I didn’t have what they had, but those struggles sparked something in me. They lit a fire—an anger, at first—that ultimately transformed me into something much stronger. That fire turned me into a tiger.

Tigers hunt for their food. They don’t wait around for someone to hand them a meal. They seek it out with focus, determination, and the belief that nothing will come easily. This mindset is critical in life, and I’ve come to believe it’s just as crucial in sports. If you watch closely, you can easily tell which players are hunting and which ones are being hunted. The difference is striking.

In sports, just like in life, there are those who pursue greatness relentlessly and those who wait to be served. The players who are truly hunting—who are driven, who refuse to back down—are the ones who have faced adversity. They’re the ones who understand that victory doesn’t come without struggle, and they’ve learned how to push through, no matter how tough things get. On the other hand, the players who are being hunted often haven’t had to face that same level of hardship. They haven’t built the mental toughness necessary to thrive under pressure.

I can’t speak for everyone, but based on my own experiences, I believe that adversity at a young age prepares you to hunt. It builds the kind of character that not only shapes you as an athlete but as a person. It’s not just about sports—it translates to academics, career pursuits, and every challenge life throws your way. Adversity teaches you resilience, perseverance, and the understanding that nothing worth having comes easy.

To the parents out there: I know you love your children, and you want to protect them. I get it. But I urge you to help them build character by allowing them to face adversity. Yes, it’s tough to watch your child struggle or experience hardship, but it’s in these moments that they grow. Protecting them from every challenge might seem like love in the short term, but in the long run, it can leave them unprepared for the real world.

When you shield your child from every difficulty, you’re keeping them from learning how to hunt. You’re denying them the chance to develop the resilience that will serve them throughout their lives. So, while you may want to keep them safe, consider this: By letting them face challenges, you’re helping them build the strength and determination of a tiger.

Give them the tools to face the world with courage, to hunt for their success, and to rise above adversity. By doing so, you’re not just preparing them for sports—you’re preparing them for life. And that’s a gift that will last far beyond the final whistle.