I did a very strange thing last week. I tried out for the basketball team.

Yes, the Iowa State Men’s Varsity Basketball Team. The very same team that chopped up its Big Eight competitors last year.

The team that is picked by Playboy Magazine sixth in the country, ahead of defending national champion Kentucky.

As you’re reading this, you probably asking yourself, “What was he thinking? Does Mr. Pinhead Writer Boy think that he can play ball with the big boys?”

Good questions. Well, I can tell you I wasn’t doing it because I was short on story ideas. I’m an opinion writer, not an investigative reporter. I had actually planned this months in advance, believe it or not.

I came to this decision one Saturday night after some considerable thought (and some considerable Miller Lites). I thought to myself, “What would it hurt to give it a shot?” Indeed, I’d always wondered what it would be like to actually try out for a Division I basketball team.

It occurred to me that my skills were probably not up to snuff. Sure, I had played at Lincoln High School in Des Moines, where we won third place in the state my senior year. Unfortunately, I didn’t really play an active part in that team (read no part). I sure poured a mean cup of water though.

Realizing this, I figured that Sean Astin would not be calling to get pointers on how to play me in an upcoming inspirational movie. John Astin, maybe.

Even with these preconceived notions, I still filled out the necessary paperwork and showed up at the Rec along with 25 other brave souls on a chilly Wednesday afternoon.

Early on, I inferred that the team would not be needing my services for the upcoming season. I came to this conclusion after Assistant Coach Steve Krafcisin stated to us, “We won’t need you.”

After a few minutes of drills it was readily apparent that I wasn’t prepared adequately for this situation. To put it plainly, I stunk. However I wasn’t the worst player out there; though I was definitely the second worst.

As the 40 minute session ended, I felt a sense of relief. Relief not because I was anxious enough to believe that I could actually make the team (ha!), but relieved that I had given my best effort.

Basically, that’s what this tryout meant to me at least. There were guys out there pouring out their hearts and guts to get the smallest morsel of a chance to achieve a dream.

While I knew that my chances were slim and — let’s face it, there was no chance — I had a small inkling of hope somewhere buried in my psyche. Buried in there with all the times I’ve seen Rocky, Rudy, Hoosiers, and The Natural; there was that small chance of hope that I would be carried off the court just like a little known Notre Dame football player.

Yeah, so it was a silly notion. I’ll agree with that. I still feel good though that I went out and put forth my best effort. That’s really what living is all about. Not whether you succeed or fail, but whether you give 100%.

Many go through life not even knowing what it’s like to feel defeat, let alone victory. What a dull life. Now don’t get me wrong; I love to win more than anyone else.

Losing however is where we learn our most valuable lessons. How many times have we seen heroic stories of sports figures who have endured over incredible odds.

I can think of two such people: Dave Dravecky and Brett Butler. Here are two gifted baseball players who were diagnosed with cancer.

They both came back to play in only a few games each. After two games Dravecky literally threw his arm out; the tumors had deteriorated his muscles to the point where his arm had to be amputated.

In Butler’s second game back, he broke his hand after being hit by a pitch. Not only was his season over, but probably his career as well.

These guys ended up losing, but their resurgence from unbelievable lows makes them winners in my book. What would have happened if they decided that coming back wouldn’t be possible? There would be no shame, but they would constantly wonder what a comeback would be like.

The same can be said of millions of people. How many times have we had a chance to do something and passed it up for some puny reason. We didn’t want to look foolish, or we were afraid of losing.

These excuses only deprive us of greater satisfaction in our lives. We all have regrets from when we had a chance to accomplish something and given up instead. At least with trying we give ourselves the satisfaction that we made a valiant effort.

I’m not saying that everybody should go out for the baseball team or the football team in order to feel good about themselves.

What I am saying is if you have a chance to fulfill a particular desire, then take it! Life is too short to live on regrets and what-ifs. What have you got to lose?

Sometimes effort can be its own greatest reward.

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Rob Zeis is a senior in finance from Des Moines.