Sour Grapes

Frodo and I have never felt so humiliated in all our years of paddling for the same team, like what transpired early this morning. We were not allowed to train because (1) I didn’t wear the official uniform required for the photo shoot and (2) Frodo came late.

But these aren’t accurate charges. (1) I didn’t wear the uniform because nobody informed me about it and (2) Frodo simply went back to his car to get something, and was told upon his return, that being late, he couldn’t be loaded. In fact, Frodo arrived earlier than His Majesty.

But that is not even the worse part. Since we were removed from the line-up, we were simply left to fend for ourselves. No instructions whatsoever. No information whether we’d be picked up mid-way through the training. We didn’t know whether we’d be training using a smaller boat. It would have been better had we been told to simply go home, at least we won’t be wasting our time ambling in the row site. Nada. Nothing. The rest simply left us there. It was so humiliating. We felt like we were no longer part of the team. Our previous team captains never subjected us to this indignity.

And the worst part? His Majesty even had the temerity to apologize to Frodo later (yes, to him alone, maybe because Frodo wore the uniform and I didn’t) and told him to attend the following day’s training, (and seeing that I was there inside the car, added, “and you as well”).

Wow. How condescending.

We didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Frodo couldn’t hide his disappointment: he seethed with anger after His Majesty left.

I reacted calmly. There is just no use getting riled up every time somebody gives you a bad time. It is not worth it. I’ll stow away my paddle for now. I simply cannot submit myself to a leadership that is weak and which has lost my respect. Maybe after the annual changing of the guards in July, I’ll pick up my oar again.

There are so many alternatives: jogging in UP and Marikina, long-distance biking to Antipolo and Tanay, and swimming in ULTRA.

I’m willing to give up rowing in a snap.