Ode to the Weekend Warrior
Like all working people around the world, I wake up on Monday mornings and go about my routine before heading out the door to work. Like most 9 to 5’rs, I’ll brush my teeth, slip on my dockers, button up my shirt, and knot up my tie before breakfast. A pair of over-easy eggs, accompanied by a single slice of ‘Killer Dave’s 12-Grain Bread’, washed down by an extra-large slow-drip mug of coffee. Satisfied with a hearty meal I’ll grab my briefcase before squeaking out the door to head off to my classroom at Southern High School. Three classes and a prep period full of lesson planning and grading later, I’m finally free- ready to head home and do it all again tomorrow. Once Friday arrives, That’s a different story, it’s the weekend. But this guy, me, isn’t headed to happy hour. I’m headed off to BWI to catch a flight to Atlanta.
People work for the weekend, so they can relax and wind down after a long monotonous work week. They just finished working 5 days and 40 hours of shuffling papers, staring at the computer, a classroom full of kids, or making their last sales call. The weekend sounds good right about now, with nothing to worry about and being able to sit back and relax. Happy hour with boys or a girls night out with the ladies, these are days to rest up and recover. This is where my trip to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport comes in and the real fun work begins.
Ready for the plot twist? I am not a normal 9 to 5’r, I’m a professional lacrosse player, a weekend warrior. Rest in peace to Major League Lacrosse, as I plead my case to be seen by a Premier Lacrosse League coach- where I can only assume weekend life is not much different. In any case, let’s rewind back to Monday morning. I bet you thought my alarm went off at 6:30 or even 7? Nope, try at 4:45 am. Before those khakis get pulled up, its gym shorts and hoodies for a morning run or a muscle pump at Retro Fitness. As I said, I’m not your typical working man, so my day isn’t done after work either. The school bell rings, and I am off to the field to get in a lacrosse workout with a local teammate before the day is finally over. Once that is all done, I can finally grab dinner and rest and do it again tomorrow. Let’s fast forward to Friday. So what does the schedule of a weekend warrior look like?
The Friday school day is over and I’m off to Atlanta en route to a 9 pm practice with the Atlanta Blaze. Tomorrow evening we have a game against the Boston Cannons. On most weekends between the months of March and August, the life of a pro lacrosse player in the MLL is spent on the road in hotels of big and obscure cities along the east coast and Denver. Then it is back home on Sunday to get ready for the workweek and do it all over again.
Here’s a view of my typical in-season weekend. Friday after work I hop on a plane to a given game day city. This is a perfect time for me to sit back, relax, and focus my attention on playing, or spark up a conversation with my seatmate to exchange friendly banter with strangers. After hopping off my Friday night flight, I get to meet 25 of my best friends at the team’s Marriott Hotel or the practice field. Our practice is as fun as it gets because we will be greeted by fans asking for a quick autograph and picture before prepping for tomorrow’s game. Once practice ends at 10 pm, the team packs up and darts to the hotel for a late snack and a team meeting before lights out.
RING A’ LING DING! My alarm goes off at 6:30 am Saturday morning and my roommate and I head downstairs to the lobby for team breakfast and meetings. This is an excellent getaway from the quick eggs and toast, the weekend brings in the Eggs Bennie and OJ! At 8 am, we shuttle to the stadium where we practice and ‘walk through’ today’s game plan. It is now 10 am and we have downtime before lunch back at the hotel. Before our 1:30 pm defensive team meetings we sometimes get the opportunity to have a little ‘meet and greet’ with the media and or fans for pics and autographs, as kids and parents get very excited to meet their favorite players. If not, it's off to the room for a quick nap or bite to eat. Once that wraps up it’s back on the shuttle at 3 to the stadium for pregame!
Game time is at 6 (or sooner) and for 2 hours I get to battle it out with my teammates to get the ‘W’! There is no better feeling or rush than through game time and after a big win. After the game, we have the opportunity to celebrate with the team and fans alike. Following the post-game festivities, it’s back to the hotel for a great night’s rest then in the morning, straight on a flight home to Baltimore. Usually, my Sunday is capped with multiple snacks and naps before prepping for Monday’s lessons at school. Another rewarding weekend!
The life of a professional lacrosse player, a weekend warrior, is not an extravagant one, nor a high paying one, but it is fulfilling. We may not be Lamar Jackson making $40 million dollars a year, but the little money I do make is well worth the weekend. I love the weekend grind that includes hotel stays and long days of traveling to new places. It is an opportunity to do something bigger and inspire kids that look to one day be in your shoes. It’s a chance to be a role model and to change the lives of others using sports as a vessel. I am a weekend warrior and I would not trade the people I’ve met, the memories I’ve made, the experiences I’ve had, or the lives I’ve touched and changed along the way, for anything in the world.
Ronnie Fernando