Don't be "against" - be "for" something!
"It was us against the world!"
If you have watched any sports team championship in the past few years you have grown a little tired of the phrase above. Apparently, any team that wins a title claims they did so "against all odds." The funny thing is, teams that have even been favored to win, and were supposed to win, somehow end up claiming "It was us against the world."
Really?
I get it. There is little that motivates a team, player, or coach more than the experts or public opinion claiming they don't have a chance. If that is the case, what do you have to lose - just go prove everyone wrong! So, it should not be a shocker that in recent years, many teams that have won titles weren't necessarily the team picked to do so. I still remember in 2006 when my beloved Detroit Tigers were preparing to play the underdog St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. One national columnist said Detroit would win the 7 seven game series so easily, it might only take three games to do so. Talk about locker room material for the Cardinals. Guess who won the series in five games? Not Detroit. (I still haven't gotten over that one).
That brings us to the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament - better known as March Madness. My favorite time of the year. This year, the Final Four was held in Detroit, MI - less than 70 miles from where I grew up. I have spoken of my love and roots to the state of Michigan - and I am a die hard Michigan State University fan, since a few of my family members have gone there (sorry U of M). So, watching Michigan State march to the championship game this year was a special event - because, in many ways, it was the ultimate "home game" for a state needing a warm feeling of "home" more than anywhere else in the country.
Let me quickly add, there is no Hollywood ending here. MSU got blown out in the final against heavily favored and deserving winners North Carolina. It was a sad ending, but what was accomplished by MSU just getting to the final game is what was so inspiring - and that is what I want to highlight.
"Us against the world."
I am so tired of hearing that phrase. MSU was a #2 seed in the tournament, which is a great seed, so getting to the Final Four for them wasn't exactly a Cinderella story - yet it kind of was. It takes 4 wins just to make it to the Final Four, and after their second game, most of the experts were picking against them. At that time, it would of been easy for head coach Tom Izzo and the players to adopt the mantra, "Us against the world."
But they didn't.
They did the exact opposite. Tom Izzo was born, raised, went to school, and has never worked anywhere but inside the state of Michigan. He bleeds Great Lakes. A few years ago when it was announced that the 2009 Final Four would be held in Detroit, he started recruiting and preparing his team for that destination. Little did he know, that a few years later, by the time the tournament rolled around, Detroit would be the poster city for our current financial struggle. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. The wheels are falling off the auto companies. Detroit remains to be the butt of every one's joke. To those associated with the state of Michigan, or the city - no one's laughing.
When the tournament rolled around this year, and Izzo saw what a run to the Final Four could do for a state looking for an early stimulus package - the goal became a little more important. If any city in the country right now could claim "Us against the world," it would be Detroit. But they don't. Neither did Izzo and Michigan State.
Game after game. Interview and after interview. Izzo and the players talked about playing "for" the people of Michigan. On numerous occasions they talked about "providing a ray of light for the city." They mentioned wanting to "give the people something positive to think about for a few weeks." There was never a mention of "showing up the experts," but instead, they were playing for people other than themselves - for a cause BIGGER than themselves. Besides, many of the players were Michigan bred themselves. They have felt the pain. Now, they wanted to provide some relief.
The results were awesome. In their run to the final, they beat the Pac-10 champion (USC), the defending national champion (Kansas), the overall #1 seed in the tournament (Louisville), and the team that was ranked #1 for the longest period during the season (Connecticut). As I mentioned, in those last three games, they were seldom picked to win.
If you watched the games (as I did on the edge of my seat) - you could see how they were playing outside of themselves. They were playing "in a zone," and "above their heads." After beating Connecticut in the semi-finals, the game no one gave them a chance to win, Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun had this to say, (and I paraphrase), "I watched tape of them this season against other teams. The team we played tonight was not that team."
Maybe the Spartans were on to something.
We are all inspired by moving stories of triumph against all odds. When an individual or group of people rally around a cause to achieve a goal many thought impossible. We connect with these stories because they reveal such selflessness, courage, and perseverance. If you are like me, you ask yourself, "Could I have done that?"
Well, could you?
What in your life has this kind of importance? And by importance, I mean something that is bigger than you. Something that helps or blesses others. Something that forces you to make sacrifices, stretch your comfort zone - and get out of yourself. Do you think it is any coincidence that we compliment someone by saying they played "out of their mind," and we also encourage people to "get out of themselves." Might their be a correlation?
It sounds to me - that when we get our own ego and self-interest out of the way -and actually live, play, or strive for something bigger than ourselves - MAGIC HAPPENS!
So, it's not "us against the world," it's actually "You 'FOR' the world!" Doesn't that have a better ring to it?
And, you know what they give champions don't you - RINGS!!!
So, if you want to experience some magic - you better decide what you are "FOR!"
If you are not sure, I would be happy to listen!
Much love!
Travis
561.676.4583
PS - Thanks coach Izzo and the Spartans.
If you have watched any sports team championship in the past few years you have grown a little tired of the phrase above. Apparently, any team that wins a title claims they did so "against all odds." The funny thing is, teams that have even been favored to win, and were supposed to win, somehow end up claiming "It was us against the world."
Really?
I get it. There is little that motivates a team, player, or coach more than the experts or public opinion claiming they don't have a chance. If that is the case, what do you have to lose - just go prove everyone wrong! So, it should not be a shocker that in recent years, many teams that have won titles weren't necessarily the team picked to do so. I still remember in 2006 when my beloved Detroit Tigers were preparing to play the underdog St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. One national columnist said Detroit would win the 7 seven game series so easily, it might only take three games to do so. Talk about locker room material for the Cardinals. Guess who won the series in five games? Not Detroit. (I still haven't gotten over that one).
That brings us to the 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball tournament - better known as March Madness. My favorite time of the year. This year, the Final Four was held in Detroit, MI - less than 70 miles from where I grew up. I have spoken of my love and roots to the state of Michigan - and I am a die hard Michigan State University fan, since a few of my family members have gone there (sorry U of M). So, watching Michigan State march to the championship game this year was a special event - because, in many ways, it was the ultimate "home game" for a state needing a warm feeling of "home" more than anywhere else in the country.
Let me quickly add, there is no Hollywood ending here. MSU got blown out in the final against heavily favored and deserving winners North Carolina. It was a sad ending, but what was accomplished by MSU just getting to the final game is what was so inspiring - and that is what I want to highlight.
"Us against the world."
I am so tired of hearing that phrase. MSU was a #2 seed in the tournament, which is a great seed, so getting to the Final Four for them wasn't exactly a Cinderella story - yet it kind of was. It takes 4 wins just to make it to the Final Four, and after their second game, most of the experts were picking against them. At that time, it would of been easy for head coach Tom Izzo and the players to adopt the mantra, "Us against the world."
But they didn't.
They did the exact opposite. Tom Izzo was born, raised, went to school, and has never worked anywhere but inside the state of Michigan. He bleeds Great Lakes. A few years ago when it was announced that the 2009 Final Four would be held in Detroit, he started recruiting and preparing his team for that destination. Little did he know, that a few years later, by the time the tournament rolled around, Detroit would be the poster city for our current financial struggle. It has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. The wheels are falling off the auto companies. Detroit remains to be the butt of every one's joke. To those associated with the state of Michigan, or the city - no one's laughing.
When the tournament rolled around this year, and Izzo saw what a run to the Final Four could do for a state looking for an early stimulus package - the goal became a little more important. If any city in the country right now could claim "Us against the world," it would be Detroit. But they don't. Neither did Izzo and Michigan State.
Game after game. Interview and after interview. Izzo and the players talked about playing "for" the people of Michigan. On numerous occasions they talked about "providing a ray of light for the city." They mentioned wanting to "give the people something positive to think about for a few weeks." There was never a mention of "showing up the experts," but instead, they were playing for people other than themselves - for a cause BIGGER than themselves. Besides, many of the players were Michigan bred themselves. They have felt the pain. Now, they wanted to provide some relief.
The results were awesome. In their run to the final, they beat the Pac-10 champion (USC), the defending national champion (Kansas), the overall #1 seed in the tournament (Louisville), and the team that was ranked #1 for the longest period during the season (Connecticut). As I mentioned, in those last three games, they were seldom picked to win.
If you watched the games (as I did on the edge of my seat) - you could see how they were playing outside of themselves. They were playing "in a zone," and "above their heads." After beating Connecticut in the semi-finals, the game no one gave them a chance to win, Connecticut head coach Jim Calhoun had this to say, (and I paraphrase), "I watched tape of them this season against other teams. The team we played tonight was not that team."
Maybe the Spartans were on to something.
We are all inspired by moving stories of triumph against all odds. When an individual or group of people rally around a cause to achieve a goal many thought impossible. We connect with these stories because they reveal such selflessness, courage, and perseverance. If you are like me, you ask yourself, "Could I have done that?"
Well, could you?
What in your life has this kind of importance? And by importance, I mean something that is bigger than you. Something that helps or blesses others. Something that forces you to make sacrifices, stretch your comfort zone - and get out of yourself. Do you think it is any coincidence that we compliment someone by saying they played "out of their mind," and we also encourage people to "get out of themselves." Might their be a correlation?
It sounds to me - that when we get our own ego and self-interest out of the way -and actually live, play, or strive for something bigger than ourselves - MAGIC HAPPENS!
So, it's not "us against the world," it's actually "You 'FOR' the world!" Doesn't that have a better ring to it?
And, you know what they give champions don't you - RINGS!!!
So, if you want to experience some magic - you better decide what you are "FOR!"
If you are not sure, I would be happy to listen!
Much love!
Travis
561.676.4583
PS - Thanks coach Izzo and the Spartans.
Labels: basketball, direct life coaching, Final Four, Michigan State basketball, Tom Izzo, travis thomas
2 Comments:
Great Blog. It truly was an awesome and inspiring run in the tourney.
love the blog on izzo and the spartans! you really have a knack for thinking of things in different and awesome ways! im so proud to be apart of a school that was FOR something this year! Go green!
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