The Name on the Front of the Jersey
I did not pay attention to the Winter Olympics. The foot of snow I had to clear at my house Friday was enough of a winter sport for me.
I did know that some of the athletes representing our country took advantage of their news conferences to criticize the USA. There may be a time and place for that—but not when you are wearing the uniform of the country at the event.
I was heartened though by the USA hockey teams, both men’s and women’s. Not because they each won gold medals, although that was a first in history…but for the way they acted after winning.
They talked about their pride in carrying the American flag around the rink…about wearing the USA name on their sweaters…about representing their country on the world stage. And they talked about their teammates and sharing this moment with them.
Nothing we haven’t heard before, but in sharp contrast to those other comments.
And it got me to thinking that while we talk about “Team USA” and there are team competitions in some events, like skiing and skating…the team is actually a collection of individuals whose scores are aggregated. They may be on the same team, but they are competing against one another just as they compete against athletes from other nations.
But hockey was different. It really is a team sport. And both versions of Team USA lived up to it.
There’s a sports saying that to have a good team, you have to play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back—in this case, playing for USA, on the front, and not the individual whose name is on the back.
Forgot those individuals who missed the life memo on how to be gracious. Remember the outcome when everyone rallied around the name on the front of the jersey…not unlike 250 years ago.
