By R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

So I turned a year older on Monday, March 12 - Still life went on.
Thought I'd feel a little different, maybe more mature at 33, but nada. nothing doing. I celebrated MY day with a few friends and family, plus Variety gave a short reprieve from the daily grind that is my part time deadline (thanks bossman). And yesterday I opened my email to find some long lost acquaintances offering their peace of a birthday wish. Is this middle age I muse, nope not anymore.
There are certain things I look back on and think, man o man how blessed people are nowadays. I consider myself an orphan. Mom and dad passed on when I was 26 and 28. When I meet people in their 40's 50's and 60's who still have mom and pop around, I'm really happy for them. And I pray they make the most of it.
Jesus was 33 at the time of his crucifiction. Can you imagine being full of goodness, mercy and love for all 33 years. I can't and therein is our test. How can we improve our lives to better mankind and to impact society so that one's mentality is to pay it forward. We'll just have to keep chugging along. Hopefully star athletes who are on their way will evolve into role models for our young 'uns.
50-year-olds are young'uns nowadays. I've got a couple of bosses and one of them is nearing his thirties while the other is well past but still could be thought of as a thirty-something. The main difference between them, one has salt and peppa hair. Both have high energetic levels. And both got game from what I understand. So what is with the age thing. I've heard somewhere that age ain't nothing but a number - much like that on a jersey.
Today athletes continue to age gracefully and continue to play professional sports well into their 40's. With the advancements in medicine, more specifically sports medicine, athletes can replace or enhance just about any-part of their bodies. Likewise, with the advancement in this information age, one can easily learn how his or her body maximizes output from workouts, trainings and game. Conditioning and strengthing programs are reaching new dynamics, thus allowing us to live better. longer and stronger.
So athletes are reaching or at least are able to maintain the peak of their prowess in America's popular sports of Football, Hockey, Basketball and Baseball. In fact some even take their performance up a notch and have not slowed down even towards the tail end of their careers.
Now according to what I remember from the last census I recall that men on Guam live to the median age group of 73-78 years. So I guess I'll hit my mid-life crises at 37 or 38. then again maybe not. You know in this technologically advanced society, five-years is a lifetime so in a little bit, we'll see athletes exiting their respective sports in their prime with game intact.
So I guess our children's sports heroes might be the same as ours. WoW!
R. Vincent Tupaz, now 33, is a former beat reporter for the Variety, journalism teacher, and entrepreneur and a "has been" football player and coach. Currently he's an all around nice guy. Feedback, comments, and or suggestions are always appreciated via email at mvsports@gmail.com. Please send angry comments elsewhere