42…Humility…leading to Credibility…leading to Respect
This is Mariano “Mo” Rivera entering Yankee Stadium to the tune of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” When he was called upon, he had one job…to secure a win. The tune was fitting because, when Mo was on the mound, he was sending each batter he faced to sleep.
He was reliable, consistent, and disciplined. His humility, character, and poise were exemplary. And when his career was done, he became the only player in baseball history to be unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Baseball is more than a pastime to me. I learn something every game I watch. Patience, grit, effort, decisions, mistakes, missed opportunities, and the joy of victory. I learned about teamwork, egos, and courage. But most importantly, I learned about the power of confidence backed by ascetic preparation. There is none better than Mo, maybe Jeter, to encapsule this narrative as players I watched in my lifetime. Mo was simply trusted to seal the deal; his credibility well respected across the league.
I must admit, I am biased towards the Yankees as a die-hard fan, but it is no accident why they have 27 championships. They want people like Mo, like Jeter, like Matsui, like Cone, and going all the way back to Mantle. They want disciplined teammates that wear no names on their jerseys, only the team which they represent. The have the strictest of standards in the clubhouse, in their physical appearance, and the equipment they wear. They remind each other that they must sacrifice personal desires in order to get to the next championship. They live to win, and they sacrifice to wear those famed pinstripes.
I am confident that the 28th championship is soon to come. But until that time, I will continue to reap the life lessons of America’s Pastime. I treated my military uniform as if I were wearing those pinstripes. I was there to win, to sacrifice, and to set the example. Leadership lessons are everywhere…we just have to pay attention.
Go Yanks, continue to set the example.
#seac4 #military #standards #discipline #nyyankees
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