Great quote from a great article on ESPN:
"It doesn't take talent to compete. It doesn't take talent to hustle. Play hard and have fun."
-- Newbury College, Head Baseball Coach, Greg Sullivan (23 yrs. old)
Friday, May 11, 2007
Hustle
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4 comments:
Great read. Thanks for passing it along.
I've always had a problem with the way folks talk about "talent" when referencing teams, athletes, etc. With the Pats, for example, it was the thing to say they had limited talent during the super bowl years. Analysts all want to separate those with talent from those with heart, instincts, desire, etc.
To me, talent = ability + heart. Have ability without heart, and you're probably an ass or wuss who's wasting some impressive gifts. Have heart without ability, you're like Rudy -- inspirational, but not going far. Have both and you have real talent.
I think I need to disagree with you on that one, a bit. Talent is separate from competitiveness and hustle.
Manny is supremely talented but shows neither hustle nor competitiveness.
Competitiveness and hustle come from heart.
The knock on J.D. Drew is that he lacks heart (hence only more than one season playing more than 110 games). He's undoubtedly talented.
I can't knock their talent, but there is a certain lack of passion in both their demeanors, and passion comes from heart. Talent has nothing to do with heart and passion. You're either talented or you're not -- talent is "God-given," and we're certainly not all created equal.
Guys with talent and heart:
Tom Brady
Larry Bird
Curt Schilling
Cam Neely
These guys make you feel privileged to watch them.
Watch the current Stanley Cup Playoffs. Watch the fourth liners. By no means the most talented players on the ice, but their hustle and determination make them key contributors and certainly more than inspiring stories. It's usually the fourth liners who get tasked with shutting down the first line of the opponent -- it's heart vs. talent and it's impressive how the truly "great" checkers can shut down the skill guys.
Manny could dig out every grounder, that's hustle and has nothing to do with his talent except that he relies on his talent to avoid taking flack for not hustling -- and we mostly let him.
The NC baseball team is certifiably untalented, but they work hard, play the game the way it's meant to be played -- though badly. All things being equal, you want to win. But all things not being equal, all you can do is go out and work your butt off.
I see your point. I guess what really pisses me off, though, is this obsession with "talent" over a consideration of the total package. Any player is as good as his heart, drive, intellect, and physical attributes combined. S/he is a package, and the best have it all.
As I think about this issue, I'm realizing it's really about one conversation -- Peyton Manning (pre-super bowl) v. Tom Brady.
The coverage and comparisons between these two quarterbacks over the past few years (again pre-Colts SB win) has pissed me off to no end. Virtually every analyst insists on saying that Peyton Manning is the most talented QB in the league, the best, because of his arm strength, stats and intellect. Sure he couldn't win the big game and he's constantly throwing team mates under the bus, but he's the most talented. If so, then I say fuck talent. Show me the winner, and I'll show you the best quarterback, Tom Brady.
So, this rant was really about me being a typical Boston fan. As for the real discussion of talent vs. heart, I agree with Agricola's well-constructed response. Now that's talent.
I appreciate the use of "s/he". I have always liked it. It's inclusive without being awkward, overly.
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