Wishing Wells for Veterans?

Sometimes I wish that when I stood in front of a wishing well rubbing a shiny quarter between my fingers that the "ploop" noise the coin makes as it spins and twirls its way to the bottom was the beginning of a wish coming true and the end of worrying about what I was wishing for. You see, I'm the kind of guy who's played a game for a certain amount of time. If I were an athlete, well I am, but not a professional one, I would not be considered a rookie and I would not green. I've played the game just long enough for people to consider my talent a waste as opposed to potential. I would be considered a veteran; crafty, aware of the rules and a master at bending them. Some would appreciate that, but others would not. I for one am not one who appreciates the craftiness I've brought to the game. The only person who has been fooled is me. The coaches, the other players, the staff at the organization see my dodging of the rules as indication that I don't believe in their message. They see all the loses that could have easily been wins and wonder where they failed. My opponents sit in locker rooms laughing, jeering, smoking cigars and bathing in the champagne bubbles that were meant for me. Instead of standing in front of a wishing well and casting another coin full of a wishes for somebody else to make me what I know I should be...