Lazy but Talented...

If you look at this shirt...I mean REALLY look at this shirt, it should piss you off.  It does for me.  I look at this shirt and it makes me sick to my stomach.

There are several reasons why this shirt bothers me, and I'm going to try and explain...

1. "Lazy but Talented"...what is the moral behind this phrase?  What/where is the motivation?  You're talented, ok, there are a ton of people with talent.  But you have the audacity to tell me that you're lazy as well?  Stupid...plain stupid.

2. I WAS the lazy but talented kid.  I look back at the talent that I wasted not working as hard as I should have been.  My college career was cut short because I was too lazy to go to class.  I look at this shirt and NIKE wants kids to think that it's cool to half-ass things...?  Stupid...

3. While you think it's cool to coast and not work hard, there is some kid out there (with probably less talent than you and a much bigger H.E.A.R.T) working his/her ass off to make you look like the lazy bastard you were all off-season.

4. This shirt was made for a professional football player.  What a great item to make for the youth to want to wear and emulate.  Do you really want your kid looking up to a Pro who endorses this type of sentiment?  Is this what you want your kid to strive for?

5. This shirt should now piss you off.

Breaking Down the H.E.A.R.T Athletics Player Card

Most of you know by now that I am a sports junkie...big time.  But as a kid, everything was cookie cutter processed and given to the masses.  Not only was this the status quo, but most of what we were given was marketed to us through athletes we had no connection with other than that they played on our favorite team.  I think it's great that you are one of the best athletes in your sport, but when it comes to impressionable young kids, teenagers and young adults, we often use individuals who are in the spotlight as "role models".

The H.E.A.R.T Athletics Player Card was created by me (John Harris), with the help of Brent Riley.  This shirt is aimed at encouraging, empowering and highlighting the contributions (no matter how small or big) that your athlete has made over the past season.  Why look to follow in someone else's shoes or blueprint when you can make your own path, carve your own niche, while making YOUR own history.

Let's break down the front of the shirt. 
1. Identifies the team or school that your athlete plays for. 
2. Is an action picture that you can upload on the site for your athlete (This is a picture of Billy Hubbard, really, really good football and lacrosse player). 
3. Identifies your athlete by name, number and position.

Back of the shirt breakdown.
1. again identifies the athlete. 
2. Provides all the information that a professional trading card would have, but this card is tailored to specifically to your athlete. 
3. Provides and detailed explanation on the past season and what they contributed (even if it was only ONE play, special teams or scout team...THEY did it and deserve to be recognized for it). 
4. and 5. provide the stats for the past or current year.

This shirt was designed for your athlete and their self-esteem.  While it is good to have people to look up to and goals to shoot for, you shouldn't have to look outside of yourself for motivation.  Every athlete can't be All-State, a Blue Chip or a Five Star stud, but every athlete that plays their H.E.A.R.T out should be recognized for it.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC
www.heartathleticsllc.com