How Selflessness Can Lead to Success

Mainstream sports media tends to glorify the individual. Who did LeBron dunk on? Does anyone have a better change-up than King Felix? Did you see Crosby’s assist in OT?

But when it comes down to the games themselves, the trite phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in 'team’” truly proves its worth. Barring the occasional exception, the very finest teams tend to value role players and collaboration. Take the NBA champs, for example. The San Antonio Spurs feature star players like Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. However, it was role players like Kawhi Leonard, Boris Diaw, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills who gave the team a complete attack on its way to a title. Time and time again, selflessness has been a virtuous trait in team sports.

Coping with backup duty

With offensive whiz Chip Kelly at the helm, the Philadelphia Eagles feature one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. Tight end Zach Ertz expected to be a major part of that. However, because of Kelly’s preference for an offense with three wide receivers and one blocking tight end, Brent Celek has played and Ertz has sat on the bench, The Daily Journal reported.

It’s quite common for talented athletes on the bench to dissent against their coaches. However, Ertz has taken a different stance that young athletes may want to consider.

“I’m a competitor. Everyone in this room is a competitor,” Ertz told The Daily Journal. “They want to be on the field just like I want to be on the field. But at the end of the day, all I want to do is win. And if Brent or James [Casey] give us a better chance to win, then I’m going to support that.”

No-name defense shines

J.J. Watt won’t be returning to the Wisconsin Badgers defense, but that hardly seems to matter. And even after the team lost its entire front seven from last year to graduation, the mostly unidentifiable defense is thriving, according to The Gazette.

Following a recent drubbing of Nebraska, Wisconsin’s defense is getting recognition for its teamwork and variance, even though the team has no household names. Coach Gary Anderson told The Gazette that “selfless” would be a good word to describe the unit.

“They don’t sit there and pay attention to the individual numbers to the point where it’s irritating or a distraction at all. I want them to go make plays,” he told the publication.

Selflessness can be a difficult concept to grasp for a young athlete. However, by sharing the impressive stories of Ertz or the Wisconsin defense on team websites, coaches can teach the value of working alongside teammates. Just ask Spurs coach Gregg Popovich if teaching this style of play is worth the effort.