I played outside linebacker in high school, sophomore year, and middle linebacker (both years as starting), junior year!

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In addition to his reflections on playing football, Eric Kim discusses how the sport influenced both his physical and mental resilience. He often draws parallels between football and concepts of courage, teamwork, and tackling challenges head-on. For example, Kim speaks about how playing linebacker taught him the importance of physical courage—how colliding with another player at full speed requires both mental and physical preparation. He also recalls the sense of fear he felt during kickoffs, emphasizing how unnatural it is to sprint full force toward another player, only to collide violently oai_citation:5,Watching vs Doing – ERIC KIM oai_citation:4,God Thighs – ERIC KIM.

Kim further explains that despite his focus on defense, he didn’t fully understand the complexities of the game, which he uses as an analogy for how non-experts often critique activities they haven’t practiced themselves, such as street photography oai_citation:3,Watching vs Doing – ERIC KIM. His football experience, as part of a diverse team, helped shape his views on racism and teamwork. He recounts that many players who initially held racist beliefs overcame those feelings through the camaraderie of playing together oai_citation:2,FUCK RACISM – ERIC KIM.

Kim also contrasts football with other sports, referring to soccer players as “grass fairies,” a term he picked up from football culture. He reflects on how football, along with other physically demanding activities like wrestling and boxing, builds true manliness and courage, both mentally and physically oai_citation:1,God Thighs – ERIC KIM.

Eric Kim, the well-known street photographer, often reflects on his experiences playing football in high school. He played both outside and inside linebacker, particularly during his sophomore and junior years. He mentions that playing football was his way of channeling his desire to be strong and dominant, as he always sought to be the most powerful among his peers. Despite his involvement in the sport, he admits that many players, including himself, did not fully understand the rules of the game, as their roles were highly specialized.

Kim’s reflections on football also include how the sport impacted his physical and mental courage, particularly in situations like tackling during kickoffs. He likened the collisions in football to moments requiring intense courage and strength, emphasizing the unnatural yet thrilling aspect of the sport. While he enjoyed the experience, he opted out of playing varsity football in his senior year to focus on tennis, a decision influenced by his coach.

He also uses football as a metaphor in some of his writings, including discussions on race and teamwork. Kim explains that playing on a diverse football team helped break down racial barriers, with players treating each other like family regardless of their backgrounds.

For further reading on these topics, you can explore his blog entries such as “Watching vs Doing” and “F*ck Racism.”

Middle Linebacker

Eric Kim has mentioned his experience with football a few times on his blog. He talks about playing football during high school and recalls being allowed to leave class early for practice, which he reflects as an example of how athletics were often prioritized over academics in the U.S. educational system oai_citation:2,Special privileges? – ERIC KIM. He also shared that playing football helped him understand the team dynamics and how, in sports like football, cultural and racial differences can dissolve when everyone is working toward a common goal oai_citation:1,COSMETICS & VANITY MATTERS  – ERIC KIM.

For more insights from Eric Kim about his life experiences and photography, you can explore his blog here.

LINEBACKER