I always think of you as "the Kid". (This shouldn't surprise anyone who knows me since I refer to practically everyone as a "kid", including the President of the United States.) You were the youngest on the JNT and everyone expected great things out of you.
A reasonable request -- you were expecting great things out of yourself.
Your debut year at BVB, in only half a season (16 games) you managed to score 8 goals, seizing the adoration and attention of BVB and non-BVB fans alike. When I mentioned your name to a die hard Schalke fan, he exclaimed, "He is GOOD." Your spot as Rookie of the Year was practically "in the bag".
With your team holding a strong lead (10 points ahead of the nearest team - that's more than 3 wins - and a goal differential 18 points ahead of the nearest team), perhaps it was no wonder that you teased your other JNT teammates who were in or would soon be joining the Bundesliga. "I'll be playing for the Championship and you'll just be fighting with relegation.."
Your teasing led me to start to think of you as the "punk kid". You were that annoying younger sibling who does everything better and then likes to laugh over it. And despite the fact that we all love you for your success, do you really have to be so "in your face" about it? Your bravado and your big head was getting a little too much to take. I wasn't alone; it seems your teammates felt the same way.
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| Source: Tumblr |
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| Source: Tumblr |
Then the earthquake hit the Miyagi Prefecture where you grew up. Words don't seem adequate to describe the shock and the sorrow such an event invoked.
The Shinji that celebrated his 22nd birthday was a different one than the one who had celebrated with Makoto in his 27th. Humbled, a little worried about the future. Frustrated about your inability to play. Heartbroken over your homeland. You weren't on top of the world - you weren't "golden boy" any longer. You had a long hard road ahead of you.
I almost wished that the "punk kid" would make a reappearance. I almost wished that I could take away all those times I got annoyed with your bravado, that I would rather have confident Kagawa over uncertain Shinji. But this is life. And this is where we make our life. It's part of growing up.
Today you head back to Germany where you will start all over again, a different man than you were even 3 months ago. Do not be afraid to lean on those teammates that you annoyed just a short time ago. They will be your support.
Because despite our annoyance at having our younger siblings outshine us in everything, secretly, we're proud. And we want to see you succeed once again, this time, showing more to yourself than to anyone else, that you are capable of overcoming difficult trials and of accomplishing great things.
Love,
Me
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| Source: Tumbler |
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