The realm of sports is a great paradox, and on so many different levels.
Sports bring people closer together, only so one group can fight with another; one need go only to Fenway Park during a Red Sox-Yankees weekend series to witness this. Lifelong friendships are born, only to be destroyed by a no-trade clause here or an extra million there. After all, there is a reason Jason Giambi is in pinstripes.
Coaches acquire adulation and support for constructing powerhouse programs, only to leave and turn their backs on the recruits who committed themselves to the institution; I’m sure Dennis Erickson is much happier in San Francisco.
All of this brings us to one prevalent realization: There may be no ‘I’ in ‘TEAM,’ but there is definitely a ‘ME.’
Dan Le Batard did a piece in a December issue of ESPN: The Magazine that involved an interview with Dolphins defensive end Adewale Ogunleye. In it, Le Batard asked Ogunleye what motivates him as a player from a list involving these categories: winning, money, fame, pleasing the coach, pride and the love of beautiful women. These were Ogunleye’s top three, in order: pride, winning and then money.
It is that first reason that makes the ‘team’ concept irrelevant. Pride is synonymous with ego; if a self-respecting individual is doing something that they enjoy, it is only natural to take pride in that work. This creates a perception of oneself that builds as time progresses. When someone performs poorly in what is supposed to be his or her pride and joy, a natural reaction is to become defensive. There are those who put on a brave face in the public eye and take full responsibility for their performance. Behind closed doors, however, can we all be sure that they felt as accountable as the appeared to be during that interview?
Then there are the ‘Leons.’ You know, as in Leon, the star football player from the Budweiser ads. In his series of commercials, he simultaneously epitomizes the self-centered athlete but also offers some insight as to what these competitors are really thinking. Leon runs the gamut, from blaming everyone but himself for fumbling to refusing to ‘go there’ after a reporter asks him about his in-game miscues.
Obviously, very few ‘Leons’ come off in such a blatant manner. But if you listen closely during interviews, you can figure out who they are. Their responses usually start something like, “I’m not going to make excuses, but …” and the person proceeds to explain the reasons why the team lost, leaving him or herself totally out of the equation.
All the motivating factors mentioned after pride serves as a subsection of pride itself. You want to win, so everyone can respect your success, and tell you how fantastic your achievement was. You want money, because if you can’t earn the respect of knowing that you are at the top of your game as a winner, then at least you have something that attracts more adulation and respect. As much as Tom Brady and Kevin Garnett talk about ‘team,’ you’d be crazy to think that each has no ego.
When taking this perspective, fame, Ogunleye’s fourth choice, actually becomes as important as pride. You acquire fame through winning and through wealth; being famous strokes your ego, and gives you a greater sense of pride.
Later in the aforementioned article, Le Batard also talks about the stink that arose when Colts running back Edgerrin James said he played for dollars. Zach Thomas, the Miami linebacker perceived as what Le Batard described as a ‘lovable overachiever who cares only about winning,’ agreed when he said, “Edge tells the truth. The rest of us are liars.”
With that said, let’s assume that we all are liars, and money is the primary reason. That shifts us back to pride, and more specifically, ego. If an individual isn’t being paid, then they want to be revered for all of their talents and told how great they are. Note how I said individual; that is because it extends to everyone in the world of sports, from owners to general managers to coaches, and then to athletes.
Moreover, that realm is not limited to the professional arena. That is because all in sports are paid, be it through a multi-million dollar contract extension, an athletic scholarship, or a dinner trip to McDonald’s. In addition, there will always be winning, whether it is a national championship or a league title. These, in turn, clear the way for fame, which solidifies the ego.
In reality, pride encompasses all lifestyles; come on now, you think I don’t like hearing about how much someone likes my column? But still, it seems that in sports, more so than in any other arena, the individual wants you to know how great they are individually while also promoting the ‘team’ concept.
Like I said … a great paradox.
– Evans Erilus may be reached at [email protected]. He can be heard every Friday from 3-6 p.m. on WRBB 104.9 FM’s “Dog Pound Sports Sound.”
