The Price of Greatness

As we grind through the meat of the NFL season, noting the winners (hello local guys and Tua Tagovailoa) and ponder the losers (the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock – again) I’ve been fascinated by a non-sports story which dominated the between game headlines. Tom Brady, he of the perfect wife, perfect family, and perfect NFL reputation, was forced to confront a not-so-perfect scenario millions of people face every day: the disintegration of his marriage. I will not delve into the details of who accused who, of what transgression may or may not have occurred, except to say that I found one set of accusations most compelling: that Tom broke his word to his family (née Giselle) when he promised he would not come back for another year after retiring this past spring. Of course, Brady’s retirement lasted a little bit longer than one of his game-winning drives, and he apparently found the lure of playing one more season greater than the appeal of being a carpool dad – or at least that’s what it looks like to us outsiders. The reality is none of us will really know what caused the perfect union to become unperfect, but it did cause me to start thinking why that guy would sacrifice everything just to take one more snap under center?

And I realized he wasn’t the only great athlete at the pinnacle of their profession who made such a sacrifice. Think about it. The singleminded purpose, the obsession to be the best that drives guys like Brady, Jordan, Woods, Tyson and Bonds invariably costs these superachievers something else – and it’s usually in their personal lives. MJ admits his first marriage broke up in large part because he was absent and focused on winning and on satisfying his own needs, which included alleged extramarital affairs. Ditto Tiger Woods. Need I remind all who read this column of his supposed encounters with women from all walks of life just because he was the best – and because he could. Mike Tyson self-destructed and nearly killed himself because he overindulged in all sorts of excessive behaviors. Barry Bonds is the all-time home run king, but his name is vilified, due in large part to of a widespread belief that he used steroids to achieve his immortality (ironically, Bonds was already a superstar before the alleged usage began).

Some like Wayne Gretzky avoid the trap, but they are a rare breed.

The moral of this story?

There really is none. Except to say that to climb these highest of mountains, be it in sports, politics or business, it usually requires such maniacal focus that one invariably sheds some things he or she loves along the way. Is it fair? Probably not. But it is reality. It’s their reality. And we still applaud.

If there is a silver lining to all these examples of self-destruction, it’s this: more times than not, these icons of sport find their way toward eventual balance and satisfaction.

Michael Jordan is, by all accounts, happy in his new life with a new wife and young family. Tiger Woods rededicated himself to being a good father first, and a world-class golfer second. It seems to have been a success, as his popularity has never been greater.

Even Mike Tyson found a second act as a movie star and commentator. Therefore, don’t be surprised if you soon learn about a certain famous QB and his new life, and how he’s now happy after making some changes.

I truly hope so, both for him, and – in a way – for us.