Sad but true / Wright Brothers

While taking the Sports Vision course at Dr. Don Teig's Institute for Sports Vision in Ridgefield, CT, I was introduced to Sports Vision Magazine (http://www.sportsvisionmagazine.com). I was thrilled to see that there was such a magazine in the first place, and the content was excellent. As soon as I got back home, I subscribed, and began receiving the issues.

However, I am sorry to report that the publishers have not been able to continue producing the magazine due to lack of support in advertising and distribution. This is a tragedy, as it was an excellent magazine, and it was great to be able to show a coach or athlete an entire magazine dedicated entirely to sports vision. (I also loved the links to computer-based eye exercises.)

My sincerest hope is that the magazine will re-emerge in some form or another before much longer, and I'm indebted to Brian Stammer, its editor, for assisting me in making some connections within the field that I'd not have been able to make without his help.

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On to another subject. I've been reading Dawn Over Kitty Hawk, by Col. Walter Boyne, USAF, Ret. (my favorite aviation history author.) Now what does this have to do with Sports Vision, you might ask.

From my reading, I've learned that there were several individuals and groups trying to be the first to fly a powered aircraft at the time the Wrights were doing their work. Many of them had elaborate engineering backgrounds, while the Wrights were essentially bicycle builders and mechanics with superb intuition and powers of observation.

Their approach to flight was a slow, deliberate one, in which they first devised a way of controlling a glider before thinking of adding an engine. Not until they were able to point the thing in the direction they wanted did they consider powered flight. Meanwhile, other aviation pioneers were ignoring the idea of controlling the aircraft, and focusing on making engines of sufficient power. The prime example of this is Samuel Langley, whose "Great Aerodrome" had a marvelously engineered motor, but little means of control, and insufficient structural integrity to handle powered flight. It never flew, and nearly cost the life of its first pilot.

Why am I writing about this? Good question!!

The Wrights, and Wilbur in particular, have something to offer, which I hope to incorporate into my endeavor into the world of Sports Vision. First is the idea of following a dream. Though a very serious person, Wilbur Wright was a bit of a dreamer; he had to be, trying to be the first to fly a powered aircraft while competing with people who had much larger budgets and university-level training.

The other thing I'm trying to learn from the Wrights' experience is to take things slowly and gradually; to think things through with organized and critical thinking; and to evaluate what others have done and build upon what seems to be the most productive.

It's an approach I hope to keep in mind as I work on building my Sports Vision practice, and indeed a good way to approach anything in life.