My Take on Watching Potential
Heard the name Xavier Turner kicked around recently. Saw a bit of him play, I think it was just some local scrimmage, nothing big league. You know how folks talk, always looking for the next big thing.
It’s funny, people get caught up in potential. Like those draft talks you hear, comparing stats, who’s gonna be the next superstar. Remember hearing about guys way back, like that 1985 draft class someone mentioned once. One guy goes number one, another gets picked way later, but both make a huge impact. You just never know for sure.
Made me think, though. Not really about this Xavier Turner kid specifically, but about the whole process. The grind. I remember trying to get good at woodworking years ago. Spent hours in the garage.
- Started with just basic cuts, trying to get them straight. Messed up a lot.
- Then moved onto joints. Dovetails? Forget about it, looked like a dog chewed on ’em first few times.
- Sanding, finishing… took ages to get even a small box looking halfway decent.
Was I ever gonna be a master craftsman? Nah, probably not. Didn’t have that raw talent maybe, or maybe just didn’t stick with it that hard. But I put in the hours. Saw some improvement. Felt good making something with my own hands, even if it wasn’t perfect.
So, when I see or hear about someone like this Xavier Turner, yeah, you notice the flash, the potential. But what I really look for, or maybe what I respect more, is seeing the effort. Are they putting in the work when no one’s watching? Are they fixing the mistakes? That’s the stuff that often makes the difference, more than just raw talent sometimes.
You see folks flame out all the time. Loads of potential, but no drive. Then you see others, maybe less naturally gifted, just grind their way to being really solid. It’s just interesting to watch how it plays out. You can’t really judge from just a glimpse or some stats on paper. Gotta see the sweat, you know?
