Saw A Documentary
Last night I watched a documentary “The Redeem Team” about the 2008 USA Basketball Olympic Team. The team that was tasked with retaking the gold after “only” getting the bronze in 2004. Basketball is supposed to be America’s sport, we have the NBA where players from around the world come to compete at the most elite level! How can any other country beat the USA?!?
In 2004 we USA Basketball was complacent. Several tier one players opted to not play for the team (Shaquille O’Neal among them). But hey, the NBA is deep, even our “B” players should be able to crush anybody!
A Miscalculation
As we all know. That isn’t what happened. USA’s team in 2004 lost their first game against Puerto Rico, and then another game against Lithuania and finally the dagger in the heart against Argentina.
The team was coasting on the idea that past performance would be reflective of future performance. However, the world had changed, and the game on an international stage had evolved. Something had to be done!
Enter the “Redeem Team”. USA Basketball underwent a major organizational overhaul, led by sports executive Jerry Colangelo. He had the authority to assemble the team and hired Coach Mike Krzyzewski, a perennial college champion. Their focus shifted to national pride, solid fundamentals, and respect for the international stage. They also adapted to the nuances of international basketball, distinct from the NBA.
“The Unlearned Core Lesson… Until Kobe.”
To play on the USA National team required a 3 summer commitment. You had to practice and play in international games. Despite this, the national team again only placed third in the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Even with the practices and time spent together something crucial was missing.
Enter Kobe Bryant—the teacher who hadn’t yet imparted his lesson. Kobe, a force of nature and multiple-time NBA champion, sparked a legitimate debate: Kobe vs. MJ (and later, Kobe vs. LeBron).
But Kobe’s impact extended beyond his drive and elite athleticism. He reintroduced humility and hard work to the team. While other players partied, Kobe hit the gym. He exemplified the professional athlete’s commitment to continuous improvement. The mark of an Olympic athlete isn’t just reaching the highest stage; it’s the unseen hours spent honing skills when nobody else is watching.
Surprisingly, the team who after the 2006 blasting at FIBA still hadn’t learned that they needed more work to reach their goal of gold. They needed to train harder and more disciplined. They needed to be professional Olympic athletes.
Kobe was the perfect teacher.
“Striving Beyond Obstacles: A Personal Journey”
As we age, it is tempting to coast. Life gets hard, and we burn out. We don’t feel compelled to try as hard as we did before. That is natural. And there is a time and place to take a vacation and recharge. But if we want to continue to push for more, to reach higher peaks, we have to keep going.
Daniel Lieberman, in his insightful book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding, highlights an intriguing contrast. Older tribal members don’t simply ease into retirement. Instead, they actively contribute—hunting, hauling firewood, and supporting their kids families. As a result, many elders in traditional societies avoid the age-related issues like Osteoporosis prevalent in affluent Western countries.
The choice to age gracefully is to continue to engage with life on all levels.
In my pursuit of a job at the intersection of technology and humanity—a path uncharted in my past employment—I face challenges. Forge a new path, I must. Past achievements and personal pride won’t suffice; they’re mere coastlines against the vast sea of possibility.
Roadblocks—whether disability, or ignorance—loom. But I’ll find a way around or through them. Deploying study skills, dedicating time to learning, and building skills are essential steps. Personal goals refine my direction, and belief fuels possibility.
Excuses—youth, age, ability—must yield to our unwavering drive. Each of us charts our course. The greats persist, and Kobe illuminated the way.
This post was written by me, but I used AI to edit and refine.