Evan Weber
Sports Editor
When I played soccer as a kid, I always wanted to be a defender. I loved the idea of stopping the opposing striker, stealing the ball and initiating a counterattack. But I also wanted to be a forward, to earn the glory of scoring goals.
The truth is that my ego was too big and I often found myself frustrated by my inability to play both positions. I kept asking: “Why do I have to choose? Why can’t I do both?”
I believe we all face this dilemma at some point in our lives. We come to a crossroads where we can’t choose both options and are forced to pick one. It is a reality of this world: You can’t have your cake and eat it too. However, in the sports world, some have courageously shattered this binary thinking.
With the start of the college football season, Travis Hunter has once again entered the spotlight as a unique player who excels as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. His unusual ability to play both offense and defense is almost non-existent in modern football, largely because coaches typically encourage specialization.
Lane Johnson, an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, originally played quarterback, tight end and defensive end in college before settling in to his current position. Like many athletes, Johnson faced an “either-or” dilemma: You can’t play quarterback and defensive end at the same time.
As a young player in Japan, Shohei Ohtani’s unique ability to pitch while also being an elite hitter caught the attention of many teams. Yet Ohtani broke past the pressure to specialize, playing both roles at an elite level.
He has since won two American League MVPs and become the highest-paid baseball player in league history. Ohtani’s decision to embrace the “both-and” mentality has made him an invaluable player, capable of smashing home runs and shutting down opposing teams.
In my youth soccer league, I found my own “both-and” by playing midfield. The midfield position blends attacking and defending, allowing players to control the offense while setting up opportunities for strikers.
Soccer is different from sports like football or baseball, where positions are more rigid; players are encouraged to be versatile. While I wasn’t breaking barriers like Hunter, Johnson, or Ohtani, I still found satisfaction in not limiting myself to “either-or.”
I believe we can all apply this mindset beyond sports. Eventually, you’ll encounter a decision that seems to present conflicting options. Someone might tell you that you must choose one, that reality has deemed it to be. However, I encourage you to stand your ground, face the world and say, “I choose both.”