Wow what an intense, down to the wire year in sports. Filled with drama and epic comebacks. Think about it. Last night’s Super Bowl was won in overtime after an unthinkable (unless you are a Tom Brady) comeback. The game took place in the NRG center which only 10 months prior hosted one of the greatest NCAA Men’s Basketball championship games that was won on a last second shot. While we are on NCAA, the football championship game was won on a last second play as well. The NBA featured the Warriors blowing a 3-1 game lead and losing game 7 to the Cavaliers in the final minute. The World Series decided to outdo basketball so the Cubs not only come back from a 3-1 deficit but did so in extra innings. And then let’s not forget about the biggest Cinderella in Coastal Carolina. They won six elimination games in NCAA post season play on their ways to a 4-3 win in the deciding game 3 of the College World Series.
Individual sports have witnessed epic performances as well. The recent Australian Open was a classic, one of the greatest men’s matches in a Grand Slam finals. Roger Feder prevailed against age and a renewed Rafael Nadal. The Masters looked all but decided as Jordan Spieth had a 5 shot lead with 9 holes left and lost to Danny Willett. It would take another article to list all the examples that the Olympics produced. If you happen to be into Horse Racing (this is in tribute to my brother), the Derby and the Preakness winner was caught in the final strides of the Breeders Cup Classic for an amazing finish.
So yes, as sports fans we have been fortunate (unless we are a die heart of the losing team- I’m still traumatized by UNC’s last second loss) to witness such great competition. But as competitors, we need to go beyond the enjoyment and see what we can learn from this epic year in sports.
The obvious is the famous saying, “it isn’t over until the fat lady sings”. Athletes and coaches can learn from both sides of this. Regardless of how much you might be winning by, it is never over. Learn to keep the pedal down and keep a focus on the objective at hand. Don’t think ahead! For the team and athletes behind, they need to maintain a positive attitude and stay focused on the process, one step at a time. Don’t think about the past nor the future. Both sides have to commit to staying in the moment. Learning how to keep momentum or to regain it, is a practice all athletes should work on. Above all Never.Give.Up and Never.Let.Up.
In addition, athletes and coaches alike need to recognize and plan for anything and everything to happen. You don’t think Tom Brady, Kris Jenkins, Deshaun Watson, Lebron James, Ben Zorbrist, Roger Federer, Danny Willett had not played out similar pressure filled situations in their heads? The best players put themselves in these types of situations. They practice them in their minds and on the playing court/field. Visualize as well as physically practice last second situations.
These winners also embrace the adversity. Any great movie has a plot that contains immense struggle that the central character has to overcome. Its what allows for a hero or for greatness to occur. The same with athletes. They don’t allow adverse plays, calls, etc to create negative feelings or emotions that would rob them of much needed energy. Instead they use it as fuel. All thoughts and energy are on doing their job play by play, shot by shot. Adversity can make you bitter or better. The Tom Brady’s use it to make them better.
Yes luck does happen in sports. But what we are witnessing is players preparing themselves to be in the best possible position for luck to occur. The best stay committed to their vision, to the process and they trust their dream. They believe when everyone else has given up. All of this together is what allows for epic comebacks and wins.