Growing Into Your Championship (Originally posted on 9/12/2010)

What’s up, team? Here for round 3 and before I began, thanks to EVERYONE that takes a look at the blogs. I’m no big star just yet, and I know without a name, you really have NO reason to initially listen or watch anything I say or do. It is my sole intent, however, to do all I can to prove I’m worth your time, attention, and when Pick 6 blows up, your money! One of the ways I’ll do so is through this blog. My homies asked me to pour some of myself into the blog, so the people can relate (I can relate! Lol). Shout out to the Omega boy.

Back to the task at hand. One of my new favorite commercials is the Foot Locker “Educators” spot including such pro athletes as New York Knicks forward Amare’ Stoudemire and track star Sanya Richards-Ross. They star as new professors at a school, solely there to stress hard work and dedication to training. My preferred spot, however, features New York Giants lineman Justin Tuck (previously featured singing and dancing in Subway commercials). In this commercial he gives the students a pop quiz to find out who’s been training over the summer. At the end of this commercial he says a line that gets me so hype, I’m ready to take the field. Tuck takes off his spectacles and says, “You know what sucks worse than training? Losing. You know what’s worse than losing?” And a thick Caucasian brother says, “Nothing.” MMMMMM!!!! Good answer, playa! I had goose bumps. Man if I was 17, I’d be on my way to the Foot Locker to scoop those sneaks and make rich people richer.

Listening as a 24 year old (lord have mercy), I now read into these commercials a little deeper, searching for that message to motivate me to continue my push towards greatness. As I watched, I realized that the fear of losing can indeed be a tool to turn competitors into winners. Losing, however, can be crucial to our development into a true champion.

Take two of our favorite basketball heroes, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Jordan, one of the greatest winners of all time, ruled the NBA with an iron fist. He had endorsements out the wazoo, and was a global icon. He could do no wrong; he was immortal…until that brother met baseball. For a slight moment in time, MJ fell back to earth, forced to collect himself and rebuild himself as the champion the world knew him as. Rebuild he did, three times over. As much as it pains Lakers fans and co-signers to agree with me, Kobe Bryant would not be the player he is today if he did not struggle after reaching early success. Losing Shaq and losing the automatic championship bids challenged Kobe to be more than a talented player and be a leader. Now he flourishes in the captain and commander role he desperately sought.

Now the “loss” you overcome may not be losing the NBA Finals. It may be a physical ailment, losing a parent, or a drug addiction. Whatever your loss is, let it be one that fuels you, not finish you. YOU ARE NOT A VICTIM! You’re a warrior, and warriors fight for the cause, despite despair or discouragement.

I took a loss this weekend, in a tournament too easy to lose: Romance. It was ugly; I listened to the longtime object of my heart’s desire tell me that despite all of our time and dedication spent bettering our friendship and ourselves, a random brother was coming in to reap the benefit. I drove to the set to film sketches for Pick 6 mad as hell lol, but I slowly realized that these moments will make me cherish that wonderful woman God does reward me with. You really value that Benz when you’ve been walking everywhere before. So to everyone currently in a battle that seems to be overpowering, keep fighting; it’s not over. You can’t stop clawing, because there is something worse than losing: Quitting.

Peace, Hope, and Hummus.

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