Traveling around, it's difficult to follow much TV. Mainly I'm

Retief Goosen, the quiet titan of the fairways, once spoke these words: “Traveling around, it’s difficult to follow much TV. Mainly I’m somebody who watches sports.” Though simple in appearance, these words reveal a truth of deeper substance: the life of motion, of sacrifice, and of focus. For the one who is ever in travel, the comforts of the settled life are left behind. The flickering screen of TV, with its endless stories and entertainments, fades into the distance. What remains is a devotion to what truly stirs the heart—sports, the contests of strength, of will, of human striving.

The origin of this saying lies in the life of the athlete himself. Goosen, known for his calm demeanor and relentless discipline, lived a life carried by the rhythm of tournaments, practice, and journeys from land to land. For such a man, there was no stable hearth where one could sit idly before television each evening. The road, the sky, the greens of new courses—these were his dwelling. In such a life, distractions are stripped away, and what remains is devotion to the one passion that unites him with his calling: sports.

There is an echo of the ancients here. Think of the wandering philosophers—Diogenes with his lantern, or the Stoic Epictetus, a slave who traveled not by choice but by fate. They too abandoned many comforts, yet gained the clarity of purpose that comes when one carries only what is essential. To be always in travel is to learn detachment, to recognize what matters most. For Goosen, that is the sight of the contest, the struggle of the game, the pursuit of excellence mirrored in others as in himself.

The words also remind us of the heroic bond between athletes across all fields. Goosen may have played golf, but his heart was drawn to the wider world of sports. This reveals that the spirit of the competitor is not confined to one discipline. The skater feels kinship with the runner, the boxer with the footballer, the archer with the baseball player. Each recognizes in the other the same devotion, the same sacrifice, the same courage to step into the arena. Thus, when Goosen says he mainly watches sports, he is saying: I honor those who strive as I strive, those who dedicate as I dedicate.

The emotional force of this truth lies in its humility. Goosen does not boast of intellectual pursuits or grand diversions. He admits simply: I watch sports. And in this, there is no shame. For the contests of athletes are not mere entertainment; they are mirrors of the human spirit. The sight of a runner pushing through exhaustion, of a team rising against odds, of a lone golfer facing the still silence of a putt—these are lessons for life. They remind us of what it means to endure, to focus, to believe.

The lesson we draw is clear: when life pulls you into constant travel, when comforts fall away, cling to the things that inspire strength and perseverance. Do not be lost in endless distraction, but choose carefully what you allow into your heart. Let it be the sight of courage, the sound of struggle, the image of discipline. Let it be sports, or any endeavor that reminds you of what the human soul can achieve.

Practical action follows: choose your passions wisely. If you must abandon much, as Goosen did, do not abandon the things that keep your fire alive. Surround yourself with examples of striving, whether in stories, in people you admire, or in the simple joy of watching a game played with devotion. Let these images feed your determination, so that even when far from home, your spirit will remain rooted.

Thus, Goosen’s words endure as a traveler’s lesson: “Traveling around, it’s difficult to follow much TV. Mainly I’m somebody who watches sports.” Behind them lies the truth that life on the move is not a life of loss but a life of focus. Comforts fade, but passion remains. To live this way is to embrace the ancient wisdom: strip away the unnecessary, hold fast to what strengthens you, and let your journey be guided by the sight of human courage in all its forms.