The Ultimate Misnomer in Sports

Well written...I think this mindset holds true with any profession just not sports. However, the society we live in praises the talent in spite of the lack of “intagibles”. If only this concept could be taught more beginning at the cradle individuals could reach their maximum potential.

I could not agree with you more. You don’t have to go very far at all to find examples of the general public, as well as athletes thinking that talent wins games and/or championships. Look to the Dream Team in Olympic basketball. The team is loaded with superstars, from the highest-scorers, to the highest-flyers, the team has talent coming out it’s ass. But with so much talent, and so many big heads, there is absolutely no chemistry between the players, and we are beaten by European and South American teams that can better balance talent and the intangibles. Basketball cannot be won just by talent. The same goes for most, if not all other team sports played widely across the united states and globally. Football, baseball, soccer, hockey. Heartless, fireless players cannot inspire their teams, and cannot even inspire themselves enough to go out there and give 100% everytime.

Watching the Super Bowl, just look at Wes Welker. 11 catches, 104 yards. He is not a speedster, he does not have the size, or the vertical leap of any of the other receivers out on that field, yet he made an impact that cannot be downplayed. He is a smart, tough-nosed player who gives his all and never gives up on a play, which frankly, is something I believe Randy Moss should take note of.

Great blog, very nice writing, and a lot of great points.

Well said… its good to know that someone as talented as yourself has a sense of perspective to know that talent, though important, is a small component next to hard work and dicipline.

Keep up the good work!!!

Harry I feel that your article was just the starting point on why so many young people in sports has a problem in understanding why it’s so easy for them at the high school level. The ability’s that they have at the local level is not the same when it comes to the region,state, and national level. By not understanding and being cough up in believing that they are the one, and not willing to listen to those who wish to help them,they miss out on understanding what the “intangibles” are. Do not stop giving this information out, because what you have touch on is the beginning of something that needs to be understod by each and every young person in sports today.

Good Job Roomie. I will also say that, the good thing about sports as opposed to the society at large, is that when someone puts forth the effort and focuses on the details of their job, improvement is noticeable and unbiased. Results are on display for the public to see.  On the other hand, in many other aspects of life, talent as well as intangibles are in the eyes of the beholder (boss, police, judge etc.) One reader said that Wes Welker doesn’t have speed, size, or verticle leaping ability and had great numbers in the Super Bowl. That’s true, but why then compare him to Randy Moss? A better comparison would have been Kevin Faulk, who has, like Welker, done nothing but make plays for that franchise. Had it been a corporate boardroom, experience tells me that Kevin Faulk would have simply gone unnoticed and Welker would be VP? Thank God for sports.