Tom Brady: A Story of Sustained Greatness
On Sunday, I did something that I had never done before. I cheered for Tom Brady. There were other reasons to root for Tampa Bay as well, including my appreciation for all Bruce Arians had done while coaching my hometown Cardinals. Yet, despite having other excuses for why I wanted Tampa Bay to win, I realized that I actually wanted Tom Brady to win.
I am not sure what exactly changed. I have rooted against him at just about every opportunity. I was always a Peyton Manning supporter when they were going head-to-head, and there was something about the Patriots that always got on my nerves (maybe the cheating).
Something changed, though, when he went to Tampa. It was a staggeringly bold move. Leaving the city in which he had won six championships to go play for a team lacking a winning pedigree was a huge risk. No one praises Jordan for his Washington years, Montana for his Kansas City stint, or any other once great athlete dragging his/her career out in a new city.
Brady, however, has been different. He went to Tampa Bay with the intention of proving everyone wrong and winning another Super Bowl. Not only did he have the passion and necessary work ethic, but he also made it happen. In my opinion, it is one of the greatest achievements in sports history.
I am consistently captivated by greatness. Whether it is in sports, business, academia, or pretty much anything else, I love watching greatness and cannot get enough of listening to great people talk about their craft. The way that Brady controlled the game was masterful, and I enjoyed every minute of it.
I never thought that I would say it, but Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, and I doubt that he will ever be caught. He has even won four Super Bowls after turning 37 years old, past the "prime" of his career. If that doesn't inspire you to do something big no matter what stage of life you're in, I don't know what will. Tom Brady is a model for us all in longevity, but more than that, he is an example of sustained greatness. Greatness takes sacrifices, hard work, and consistency. Brady has done it all.
I hope you were as inspired as I was by his performance. Take the inspiration and turn it into action.
P.S. I wouldn't bet against him winning another one if I were you