Dear Doctor:
Riddle me this – what do you get when you combine the greatest comeback in sports history with the greatest choke in sports history? Answer – you get my beloved Yankees watching the World Series on TV, in abject befuddlement, wondering if anyone got the license plate number of that truck.
Yes, for the first time in eighty-six years (hmm… 86, does that number mean anything to the Red Sox Nation?) Boston has the right to represent the American League in the Fall Classic. And, they did it the old fashioned way – they earned it. Whatever the excuses for the all-time el-foldo from the Yankees, the Sox were the picture of all that makes a champion – talented, focused, passionate, and determined to win against all odds.
How do you show up in times of adversity? I think Terry Francona, the Boston manager, had the right perspective. When the Yanks were three outs away from a sweep, with Mariano Rivera on the mound, things looked pretty bleak, but when the Sox dodged that bullet and came back to win Game Four, Francona said at the press conference, “I can only win tomorrow’s game, there’s no point in worrying about anything past that.”
And this turns out to be one of the essential keys for big time performance and leadership – stay focused on the things you can do something about. The only issues you can address are the ones presenting themselves right before you, and while you must be aware of the future and consider it in your decision making, it’s the present moment that must commandeer the bulk of your attention.
The Red Sox excelled at this, getting timely hitting, pitching and defense, and playing like a team, something the New York squad seemed to have temporarily forgotten. Instead of trying to hit a five-run homer every time up like the Bronx Bombers, the Sox all shouldered their own fair share, with each player contributing to a greater whole.
Painful as it may be for Yankee fans to admit, the Red Sox deserved to win – and in doing so, raised the bar for underdogs and champs alike. It doesn’t matter who should finish first – what matters is who’s left standing at the end, and we can all take a lesson from the persistence, the faith and the drive to succeed that we saw demonstrated here.
Yankee Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” When you’re in a tough spot, remember the possibilities, and don’t stop pushing until you reach the top.
Dennis Perman DC, for The Masters Circle PS Have you registered for The SuperConference? It will be like nothing you’ve ever seen in chiropractic – please call 800-451-4514, or visit themasterscircle.com.
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