Day 1216 – What does it take to be the best?
Monday May 18, 2020
167 Days until the election on November 3rd
247 Days until the Inauguration on January 20, 2021
After my lively upbeat post about projected death counts, I thought it best to talk about something else. I have been watching “The Last Dance,” the story of The Chicago Bulls run for a 6th NBA title with Michael Jordan. (It’s funny, but not once during those episodes did I wonder who was our President. It was Bill Clinton. Obviously, if you want greatness you need a Democratic president.)
Michael Jordan is no doubt the greatest basketball player to have ever played the game. Yes, yes, I know. Him too. And him. But watch the episodes, and try to tell me that. What he did, I haven’t seen anyone else come close. However, it did not come easy. Yes, he had talent, but he drove himself to not only get better, but to be the best.
When he left to play baseball, many said he couldn’t make it in the major leagues. They forget that he started in double A, not single A. He should have started in the A leagues, but there wasn’t enough space to hold the press. He started higher up than he should have and in the first thirteen at bats he got a hit. He was batting 1000! What happened? The opponents got wise and realized he couldn’t hit a breaking ball. What did Michael do? He took extra batting practice before and after practice and games. He developed blisters on his hands from swinging the bat so much. He got to the point that he could hit a breaking ball. Those who know something about the game and watched him believed he could have made it to the majors. Then the baseball strike came. Michael wasn’t going to cross the picket line. He left for basketball.
His agent wrote up three different press releases. Michael didn’t like any of them. The agent offered him a pen and a piece of paper and suggested he try. After a few moments Michael wrote probably the most famous press release of all time:
“I’m back.”
What else needed to be said?
He wasn’t in shape to play basketball. He got tired. His shoulders and arms needed more muscle. According to Jordan he had to tear his whole body down and rebuild it. The first season back he was tiring at the end of games and teams took advantage. The Bulls lost to the Orlando Magic in the playoffs. Michael’s personal trainer said that after a season Michael usually took some time off. When the trainer asked Michael when he wanted to start Michael said, “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
That’s what it takes to be the best.
It’s not god given. It’s not something you can walk out on the court and think you can fake, make it up on the fly. No. It takes work. It takes dedication. It takes focus.
Now imagine this. Michael was doing a movie with Warner Brothers called “Space Jam.” At the same time he was trying to get back in shape to play basketball. He told the studio the situation and that he needed a place to work out. They said, “Yeah, okay. We’ll build you a gym.” It had a full court, weight machines, everything.
Now imagine, you are one of the top players at the time in the NBA and you get a call. It’s from Michael Jordan. He wants you to come out and play pick up basketball. What do you do? You go, of course.
Juwan Howard, Reggie Miller, Chris Webber they all got the call. The games were no ref, call your own foul. According to Reggie Miller those games were the most fun he ever had playing basketball. It also let Michael see how others played.
To be the best you gotta work.
PS Chambers at the top of the pyramid Yaxha, Mexico.
PPS I originally posted getting AAA and A leagues mixed up. The error has been corrected due to someone in this house who knows something about sports.
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