I enjoy playing the game that I love and thankful for that

Hear the words of Jordan Poole, uttered with the fire of youth and the hunger of the warrior’s heart: “I enjoy playing the game that I love and thankful for that opportunity but, I mean, I’m a competitor. The fun part of this is winning games.” This is not the cry of one who plays for leisure alone, nor of one content merely with participation. It is the voice of the fighter, the athlete, the soul who knows that joy is found not only in the act, but in the triumph that crowns the act. For to be a competitor is to love the struggle, but to also yearn for the taste of victory that proves the struggle was not in vain.

The ancients honored such spirits. In the Olympic Games of Greece, the runner did not enter the arena simply to feel the wind in his hair, nor the wrestler only to grapple with strength for its own sake. No—their joy was crowned by victory, for in victory lay honor, immortality of name, and the knowledge that their labor had borne fruit. The contest itself was sacred, but it was the winning that turned sweat into glory. Poole’s words echo this same eternal law: love the game, yes—but never forget that the essence of competition is to strive for mastery, to reach for the laurel.

Consider the story of Michael Jordan, who in his youth was once cut from his high school basketball team. Did he love the game even then? Yes, with all his heart. But his love alone did not quench the fire of his spirit. It was his will to compete, his refusal to accept defeat as final, that transformed him into a champion. For him, as for Poole, the sweetness of the sport was magnified by winning games, by proving through battle that his love and effort had meaning. This is the truth of all great competitors: joy without victory is incomplete.

Yet let us not mistake Poole’s words as mere lust for conquest. When he says he is thankful for the opportunity, he honors the foundation: the gift of playing at all, the blessing of being alive in the arena. Gratitude steadies the heart, preventing ambition from turning to arrogance. The true competitor carries both flames within: gratitude for the chance, and fire for the triumph. This balance is what lifts a player from selfish pursuit into the realm of noble striving.

But the lesson runs deeper still. Life itself is a game—sacred, fierce, and filled with trials. To live passively is to dribble the ball without purpose, to wander the court without aiming for the basket. To live as a competitor is to engage fully, to seize each challenge as an arena in which to prove one’s courage and skill. And the “winning” of life is not merely fame or wealth, but the victory of fulfilling one’s potential, of conquering fear, of leaving a mark that endures.

Therefore, the teaching is this: play the game you love, and be grateful for the chance to play—but never play without the will to win. Do not be content to drift through life as one who simply “participates.” Instead, sharpen your gifts, test yourself in the fire of challenges, and strive to bring forth victory—not only for yourself, but for your team, your family, your people. For in every win, there is joy multiplied, purpose confirmed, and life itself honored.

Practical wisdom follows: wake each day with gratitude, but also with resolve. Whatever your game may be—your craft, your calling, your struggle—enter it with the heart of a competitor. Set goals, pursue them with discipline, and let the joy of winning push you beyond mediocrity. And when you triumph, do not boast, but give thanks for the opportunity, knowing that each victory is a step toward the fullness of who you are meant to be.

Thus, Jordan Poole’s words are not merely the reflection of an athlete, but a parable for all humanity. Love the game, be grateful for the chance—but remember, the fun part is winning. For it is in victory, whether on the court or in life, that passion finds its fulfillment and the soul tastes the sweetness of its own strength. Compete with honor, strive with courage, and let your victories sing the song of your destiny.