Without Attitude, Aptitude Ain’t Much

I’m hoping that the U.S. Men’s Basketball Team — the “Redeem Team” — loses in the Olympics.

Yeah, I’m an American, and I cheer mightily those athletes who toil in dark hours to practice archery, or fencing, or swimming. They work hard for years with very little chance of a big payoff. Meanwhile, the U.S. put disaffected NBA players on a team that couldn’t care less about the history of the Olympics, who they represent, or what it all means. They’re in it for themselves. And for that, I hope they lose. Bigtime. It happened in Athens, and it can happen here. Which leads me to a thought about attitude and aptitude.

Sure, a person can have all the “skills” in the world. Might be able to stuff a basketball; might be able to sell the Brooklyn Bridge. But if a person is only in it for himself, I say drop him faster than the speed of light. Without attitude, aptitude ain’t much.

UPDATE: Please read Ms. Information’s comment below. Her note in the last paragraph tells the entire story in one great sentence. And if you want to read some some of the very best writing on the web by a top-notch artist and intellectual, check her out at Brickgrrl.

Posted on August 12, 2008 by Frank Roche 
Filed Under Culture

Comments

Viewing 6 Comments

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    That was spot-on, guvnor. I love the aptitude/attitude line.

    A specific note about the Olympic basketball team: I do work for USA Basketball and their PR and development people couldn't be a more wonderful bunch. I find it a shame that their most visible representative players, the men's Senior Team, has dragged down USAB's best efforts. Fortunately, the crowd favorite is the women's Senior Team- a great bunch who play dazzling basketball and are known for giving back to their communities.

    Counter to this is the men's gymnastic team, who when interviewed after their bronze win couldn't have been more of a band of brothers, real team players. It was boyishly sincere and inspiring.

    One more thing. I have a musician friend whose prestigious band auditioned players of awesome chops. When it came to choosing, my pal said, it's true the guys auditioning were of equal talent, but really, "you ask yourself who do you want to haul gear with after a long gig at 3 am through a snowstorm."
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    It is sad...and I'm sure there are really great people in the organization. I have a real rub with Kobe Bryant being anywhere because of what he did to that girl in Colorado a few years ago. I can't shake that.

    The women's team I like very much -- and I am rooting for them. And as you say, there's something about the class that the gymnasts showed that I look for in all sport. Sadly, it's missing in many of them.

    I have to tell you...I should send my articles to you for crisping. That quote by the maestro is exactly it!
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    I hear you Frank. It puzzles me that when people say you have an "attitude" it means you have a bad attitude.

    I have hired people just because of their good attitude. I then got to train them in "Ron's way" and didn't have to retrain them out of their way. I have also counseled managers for years not to just hire on experience alone. They almost always regretted it.
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    Ron, I look forward to meeing you some day. I like how you think...
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    Frank-
    I'm responding to your madly generous update. You've literally rendered me speechless- and we know how rare that is! Briefly then: a heartfelt thanks.
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    I understand where you are coming for here. Some people just loses that heart of the athlete. They're in it for themselves. They're in it for their own fame and money and not to help the team and work hard to achieve victory. Add to that, there are also some politics in the sports arena. In some countries, only the elite people can play while the poor, although talented, cannot.
 

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