You have to study. You have to be smart. We arent wasting our time on sports. It isnt meant for us. This was my parents mantra. Weeknights were reserved for reviewing algebra problems or reading a novel. Participating in sports, my parents decided, wasnt an ideal fit for my life.Their reluctance to embrace sports stemmed from their upbringing in India. Physical fitness just wasnt a part of the culture in which they grew up. For them, the Eastern idea of exercise dwelled in the spiritual -- yoga and meditation were preferred to activities like running, basketball or tennis. When they settled in America, this mindset followed. Although they watched football and other sports, my father believed education offered the best opportunity for success. The idea of pursuing a sport with the same dedication as education seemed frivolous.So I devoted my energy to spectating. I stood on the sidelines, watching my peers dunk a basketball or round the bases during softball. My achievements came in the form of an A on the geometry test or crafting a debate response to a controversial issue. I accepted that my strengths resided in the cerebral; Id hide near the bleachers during P.E., even though I longed to know what it felt like to move with grace, running on the gym floor or landing a volley on the tennis court.During school I heard about a team hoisting a trophy or a coach congratulating players on a good game. What would it mean to hit a home run or high-five my teammates after a win? Sports morphed into a foreign language I sought to not only understand but experience. But instead of pushing my parents to sign me up for volleyball or softball, I acquiesced to their wishes and continued to focus on intellectual pursuits.Now, as a parent to a 10-year-old daughter, I carry on the encouragement for her to solve math problems and read books. I also emphasize practicing tennis. Every week, she devotes several evenings to her serves, backhands and forehands. On the weekends, she competes in tournaments. In a short amount of time, Ive witnessed her grow in ways I didnt get to experience in my youth.When she lost matches in her early tournaments, she would hunch her shoulders and shed a tear, unable to control her emotions on the court. She asked to quit, but my husband and I encouraged her to sit with her angst. Navigating this terrain wasnt always easy since it introduced a level of unease, irritation and, well, loss. It also introduced resolve.Together, we would endure losing streaks, painful practices and tears. Then, in the middle of raw irritation, shed hit a brilliant backhand or ace a serve. The flashes of her hard work started to sprinkle the court in unexpected moments. As her tennis game gained momentum, she would talk about how much she enjoyed the rallies on the court.When she swings her racket, her shoulders relax and a smile appears on her face. During a match, she pumps her fist and acknowledges how much winning a point means to her. A few weeks ago, she said, I love tennis. It helps me relax.Maintaining a balance between?sports and academics isnt easy. We encourage her?to employ time-management skills, limit her?screen usage and anticipate the unexpected and imperfect when splitting time?between schoolwork and tennis. Some days may be academic heavy, while other afternoons and evenings might sway more toward athletics.?Weve seen the balance pay off. Earlier this month, down 3-1 in a set, she evened the score and eventually won the match. I watched as her nervousness and frustration turned into grit and glee, all in a single afternoon.On the ride home from that memorable win, I reminded her she still had to finish the last few problems of her math assignment. I smiled, realizing shes embracing a well-rounded education, one that teaches her the importance of studying and working hard on and off the court.Rudri Bhatt Patels?work has appeared in the Washington Post, Brain, Child Magazine, Role Reboot and elsewhere.?Follow her on?Twitter? and?Facebook?or her website,?Being?Rudri. Avalanche Jerseys 2020 . -- Sergey Tolchinksy scored his second goal of the game 3:56 into overtime as the Sault Ste. Wholesale Avalanche Jerseys . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. 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CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Terry Francona admitted his team didnt have much going through six innings Friday night.A four-run seventh quickly reversed that and resulted in a 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics.We were quiet up until then, Francona said after the comeback win that helped Cleveland maintain a 4 1/2-game lead over Detroit in the AL Central.Abraham Almonte scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch as Cleveland erased a 3-1 deficit. Jason Kipnis bases-loaded single tied it, and Almonte scored from third on Ryan Dulls wild pitch one batter later.We started getting some traffic out there, Francona said. That can kind of change the game a little bit.Cody Anderson (2-4) pitched a scoreless seventh.Cody Allen worked out of ninth-inning trouble for his 20th save. He allowed a pair of one-out singles in the ninth, but struck out Jed Lowrie before Josh Reddick flied out to deep center.Reddick, who homered in the sixth, drove a pitch that Tyler Naquin caught on the warning track to end the game.I think Naquin was probably the only guy from Cleveland who knew that ball wasnt going to quite get out, Allen said. It was a little nerve-racking, but those things happen.Kendall Graveman (7-7) allowed four runs -- three earned -- in 6 1/3 innings and lost for the first time since May 19.Carlos Santana homered in the sixth for Cleveland.Shortstop Marcus Semiens error on Rajai Davis one-out grounder started the go-ahead rally. Naquin followed with a single before Almontes pinch-hit single scored Davis and finished Graveman.Marc Rzepczynski walked Santana to load the bases before Kipnis bloop hit to left tied it. Dulls wild pitch with Francisco Lindor batting scored Almonte and put Cleveland ahead. Lindors sacrifice flly made it 5-3.ddddddddddddOakland manager Bob Melvin praised Gravemans outing.He was cruising along, he gets the first guy out and Davis gets on, Melvin said. Naquin does a good piece of hitting and he elevates the first ball to Almonte. We want to turn Santana around and walk him and then make a good pitch to Kipnis, base hit, next thing you know, were in a little bit of trouble.The Indians had lost four of five and were 8-12 since winning a franchise-record 14 straight going into Friday.We scored late, Allen said. Championship teams, you see a lot of, they score late and their bullpen holds down leads.Khris Davis also homered in the sixth for Oakland.Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer allowed two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings.ROTATION SWITCHOakland LHP Rich Hill, the subject of trade rumors, was scratched from Sundays start because hes still bothered by a blister on the middle finger of his left hand. RHP Sonny Gray will start Sunday on his regular turn.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: Hill hasnt pitched since July 17, a start in which he threw only five pitches. He could be headed to the 15-day disabled list.Indians: RHP Jeff Manship (wrist tendinitis) was put on the 15-day DL. RHP Zach McAllister was activated from the DL. Hed been sidelined with a sore right hip.UP NEXTAthletics: LHP Dillon Overton will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to start Saturday against the Indians. Hes 1-1 with an 8.40 ERA in three starts.Indians: RHP Josh Tomlin (10-3, 3.48 ERA) makes his third career start against Oakland on Saturday. He lost his last start against Baltimore, allowing four runs in six innings. ' ' '