The Greatness Newsletter

Michael Oher

Written on February 1, 2011.

What Off-Season? They are always working towards the next game… It’s one the most memorable scenes in one of Hollywood’s most memorable movies. A large African-American teenager named Michael Oher is walking down the street, hunched over against the cold, when an affluent family in a silver BMW pulls up next to him. The mother, played wonderfully in the movie by Sandra Bullock, asks where he is...

Drew Brees

Written on January 1, 2011.

When Everyone is Watching… They embrace the idea of being a role model! Over my years at Sports Illustrated, one of my favorite moments each week was getting a look at the images that were chosen for the cover of the magazine. My favorite cover of all time was published last Feb. 15, the week after the Super Bowl. On it is pictured New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees, fresh off his team’s big win,...

Archie Manning

Written on October 1, 2010.

Rubbing Elbows… They understand the value of association. Thanksgiving. What a great week to celebrate family and all that it can mean to our success. Sibling rivalry can be rough; it can be outgrown; it can be laughed about years later – and it can be a tremendous motivator towards Greatness. A few weeks ago, I spent some time catching up with the First Family of Football: Archie Manning and his sons...

Roy Halladay

Written on October 1, 2010.

Not Just About the Benjamins…” They don’t play just for the money. As any baseball player, statistician, or fan will tell you, it’s no small feat to pitch a no-hitter and it’s even rarer to pitch a perfect game. Yet, amazingly, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies did both those things this season. On May 29, he threw only the 20th perfect game in MLB history and just last week,...

Sue Semrau

Written on August 1, 2010.

Do Unto Others… The Great ones know character is defined by how they treat those who can not help them. As many universities begin their fall semester this month, one of the most innovative yet under-publicized periods of the college sports calendar begins. Several years ago, NCAA rules changed to allow college basketball teams – both men’s and women’s – to take one pre-season out-of-country...

Serena Williams

Written on July 1, 2010.

It’s Personal… The Great Ones hate to lose more than they love to win Serena Williams was a perfectionist long before she was a serious competitor on the tennis court. “When I was 5 years old and in kindergarten, we had a project due and I was up late working on it, so late that my mom had to force me to go to bed,” she told me in an interview for SUCCESS magazine. “But I kept getting...

Jim Craig

Written on February 1, 2010.

Hope for the Best, But… The Great Ones prepare with a purpose The images are timeless: the clock ticking down, the wild celebrations in the rink, the goalie wrapped in an American flag, and legendary sportscaster Al Michaels screaming the now-iconic line, “Do you believe in miracles?” The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team’s defeat of the Soviets is the greatest upset in sports history. Disney...