Working for the Weekend!

By the Numbers: Global Sport Interest

We all know the world loves sport. The interest drawn by major events such as the Olympics, the World Cup, or the Superbowl  are undeniable testaments to this. But have you ever considered the idea that your perspective may be limited? Depending on where you were born has a major influence on the types of sports you grow up playing and enjoying. Just take a look at this map of sport popularity by region. Looks to me like all the more reason to cheer for our USA squad during their World Cup Qualifying campaign! 

Who says you can't play football (...soccer) in the snow?? 

Something to Look Forward To: 2014 Olympic Games

In less than a year's time, the world will turn it's attention to the city of Sochi, Russia to be a part of the 2014 Winter Olympic games. Word is that organizers are already beginning to store snow for next year's event just in case (remember Vancouver?). Here is an inspiring look back at the 2012 Summer Games in London to jump start your Olympic fever. Enjoy!

Professional Communication

Take a look at some of the communication that goes on around the pro sports leagues. Difference? Similarities? What's obvious is that each sport has a very different way of getting the word out.

Oh Captain my Captain: LeBron James

What a leader LeBron is. Energetic, fit, inclusive, loose, serious, fun, aware, unselfish, tone setter. That's leadership #HeatStreak
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) March 26, 2013

There's no denying the success of the Miami Heat this season with their NBA record approaching win streak. On the surface, they are playing the most competitive basketball each and every night and being rewarded for that. Dig a bit deeper and you can see why.

While not the sole reason for the team's success, LeBron James is proving that he is legitimately one of the great forces the NBA has ever seen. While the scoring and statistics speak to James' talent, there is a lot more going into what makes him such a great athlete.

LeBron James has taken the pressure, scrutiny, and championship expectations of his move to the Miami Heat and sculpted himself into one of the great leaders in sport. Love him or hate him, here are some of the ways Lebron leads:

James is one of the most physically fit athletes in the league. This allows him to stay in games longer and bring more energy to the court. This raises the expectation of his teammates to be stronger and work harder.

He is very clear what the goals of the team are, and knows that it will take every member of the Heat to win another championship. Everyone must contribute their share in protecting that vision; there are no passengers on this bus.

LeBron plays the game correctly and promotes the beauty of basketball. That child-like creativity let's his teammates enjoy the game for what it is: a game. But would you ever want to get in Lebron's way when he drives to the hoop? Didn't think so. It may be a fun game, but there is no question that James means business when the clock is wound. A characteristic of great leaders in sport is that they shape their team's idea of fun not as "casual and enjoyable", but as "challenging and rewarding". Setting the tone.

Would you follow LeBron James into battle? Personal vendetta's aside (Cleveland)...it's hard to find a reason not to.

People You Need to Know: KILIAN JORNET

     Kilian Jornet in his mountain playground

It's hard to distinguish who the greatest endurance athlete in the world is. There are many different disciplines that the world's ultra-racers compete in as well over uniquely punishing terrain. They race over mountains, through snow, for extreme distances and against the clock. The punishing demands of ultra-racing is reflected by an elite community of athletes who defy conventional definitions of endurance and will.

And then there is Kilian Jornet.

This 25 year old Spainard has already conquered every notable endurance race his discipline has to offer, as well as shattering the record ascent times of some of the world's most dangerous peaks. Jornet's ability cannot be compared, same as his method. He will often run for over eight hours at high altitude and not eat any food or drink any water.

This New York Times article is an incredible glimpse into the life of an athlete you've likely never heard of. Kilian Jornet is both insightful and inspiring, now taking the power of his endurance as a personal challenge; setting records climbing and descending the world's best known peaks. 

Read the full story here (NYT article)

It's Tournament Time: Be Optimistic

March is one of the most exciting times of the year and can also be one of the most stressful. Millions of Americans will be glued to the television cheering on their favorite schools in the NCAA basketball tournament. It is a cherished past time to scribble in an empty bracket, marking sure-bets, sleepers, and bracket busters. Pitting your falsely inflated knowledge about 68 teams (most of which you've never heard of) against your closest friends and family. But then it comes time to predict how far your school will go. Maybe you're a student or an alumni. Maybe you only like them for them for the tastefully gawdy uniforms they have no short supply of. Either way, there is always a sense of betrayal when you stop advancing your own school through the bracket. It makes you feel like you've given up on them... Even if your reasoning is statistically sound, and you know they can't hit enough outside shots against the zone defense, you never want to be the first person to put a cap on their tournament dreams. And you shouldn't.

Optimism is a powerful trait for a team and it comes in many forms. The belief that any team has the chance to make a run at a national championship is what makes March such a centerfold of the sporting calendar. There is a field of 68 teams all with this insane belief, when in reality there can only be one champion. That means 67 teams will come up short. So why even dream? Why put yourself out there? Why have your team, an 8 seed, playing in the championship game?

Because if you don't believe in them, who will?

Research shows that optimistic teams perform better. This has been shown in both individual athletes and also professional basketball teams. When a coach creates an environment for the team to set high goals and then the players create a culture of optimism, success is most likely the outcome. The best athletes in the world are the day-dreamers, the ones who believe in an outcome regardless of how many "facts" show that they will fail. The higher the bar, the further a team is willing to push themselves to get as close as they can.

"Gentleman, we will chase perfection. We will chase it relentlessly. Knowing all the while we will never attain it. But along the way, we will catch excellence." - Vince Lombardi

So let the computers compile stats and rankings to try and predict a winner of this tournament. As a fan, pick your favorite team, believe that they will win every game they play, convince everyone you know that they will win the tournament, and then cheer your heart out to let those players know that you believe in them. Any coach that says they are only happy to be in the tournament and "will see what happens" has essentially crossed their name off the guest list to this dance. Blind and fearless optimism, in the face of almost certain failure; it is what a team needs to win in March. And it can start with you.

"This is Not a Story About Last Place" - Wall Street Journal

[Inspiring story about the determination of professional cyclist, Taylor Phinney.]

This is a story about a guy who finished last. Which is technically true. You can look up the results of the race, and you'll see his name, right there, lonely at the bottom. Taylor Phinney. USA. Finishing time of six hours, twenty-two minutes, fifty-four seconds. One hundred-and-ninth place. Last.

But this story is better than that.

Continue reading here.

Some motivation to get the week started