On Greatness
Dan Carlin has questioned on his Hardcore History podcast for years, what is the absolute worst period in history for human existence? Generally, the answer falls somewhere in the realm of the Black Plague, the trenches of Verdun, or [insert Assyrian massacre here]. There is no shortage of potential examples where human beings have been forced to endure, or failed to endure, the most obscene extremes.
With so much negativity, I choose to focus on more positive aspects. So what about extremes on the other side of this spectrum? Sports is an easy target. Statistics are built in, so it’s easy to track the good, bad, and ugly. Being in my 40s, I’ve had the distinct pleasure to witness some of the greatest athletes and teams in history.
As I’m typing this, I am watching the British and Irish Lions play the Springboks — the (arguable, at times) the best rugby players in the British Isles vs the World Cup winners from South Africa. After this, I’ll watch the All Blacks play the Wallabies — the All Blacks being perhaps the greatest team in all of sports. Or the second greatest team, the US women’s soccer team may have something to say here, as would both the US men’s and women’s basketball teams. What about individual greatness? I have been lucky enough to have lived through a laundry list of the very greatest athletes ever: Serena Williams, Abby Wambach, Sue Bird, Perry Baker, Portia Woodman (or any other Black Fern for that matter), Wayne Gretzky, Walter Payton, Allyson Felix, Lionel Messi, every player on the 1992 Dream Team, Gregg Popovich, the Stoltman Brothers; this list could go on and on.
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I’ve never been truly great at anything. I was a damned good athlete, but rebelled against being forced to play, therefore half-assed my effort which hindered any progress. The same can be said for my academic career. One of my parents’ stories they love to repeat is back in high school when I brought home a ‘passing’ D grade on my report card — I don’t recall which class. Dad, obviously unhappy with this result, got on my ass a bit. My answer? “Why get an A when D is passing.” And that pretty much sums up my early outlook on everything. I never learnt a trade; didn’t go to college out of high school; I don’t particularly write well (as witnessed here); hell, I wasn’t even that good of a father.
I have only begun to appreciate this far too late in life. So what then? I guess the point is that it’s never too late to strive for greatness, for excellence, to live an honorable life with integrity — even through misery. I’ll never win a gold medal, a championship trophy, or a Nobel prize, but goddammit I can be a good person — a great person. And that, I can say, while certainly not easy, is something that’s attainable for everyone. My thought is that if everyone had the same goal, we’d all be far better off in this world.
Thanks for reading this. Slàinte mhath.
hugs and crap.
Originally published, 07 Aug 2021
