“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
– William Arthur Ward
When I think of world-class sommeliers, yes, obviously the NBA is my first inclination, right? Apparently, right under our nose, deep in the heart of Texas, we have San Antonio Spurs Greg Popovich being a serious oenophile. “Pop” has for the last 20 yrs, become a legend not only for his Hall of Fame coaching career and his shenanigans with sideline reporters; but for his sublime eight-course dinners he orchestrates at cities around the country. These indulgent affairs include wines costing as much as small cars.
In the April 18th, 2019 ESPN article Michelin restaurants and fabulous wines: Inside the secret team dinners that have built the Spurs’ dynasty, Baxter Holmes details a side of Popovich that peels back the layers as to why he and the Spurs are one of the elite professional franchises in professional sports. Not that we should be shocked that a person has interests outside of their career. But professional sports are notorious for attracting workaholic Type-A personalities who live, breath and eat their occupation, to the detriment of health, family and friends.
The Heart of Leadership
“And her voice will crack, recalling the time when this famous coach, known for his gruff exterior, gave her the push she needed — how he walked into her restaurant, recognized her game and helped change the course of her life.”
– (from the ESPN article)
The ESPN piece portrays a man who is constantly teaching, mentoring and orchestrating life lessons. He appears to be able to flip the switch between “This is work… and THIS is life.” Isn’t that what real leadership is about: the ability to separate the wheat from the chaff? For someone at that level of public profile and competitiveness, it speaks volumes. His footprint has moved well beyond an autograph in an airport, or a fan selfie at a bar. You can see how Popovich has tattooed life moments on people from all walks of life. Isn’t that a must with servant leadership? A true leader inspires others with a small smile, a loving pat on the shoulder, or a few words of encourage that catapult a person’s inner confidence.
FOMO Leave Me Alone
Another visceral emotion that hit me during the article was my constant slug-fest with FOMO (fear of missing out). There’s the obvious, “Sniffle-pout-pout… I wanna be at those dinners… sniffle-pout-pout.” But also a deeper ache in the form of wondering if I missed my professional plateau. In other words, am I so far out in the weeds of mistakes, bad decisions and failures, that the best I’ll be able to do is host a Yellow Tail and fish sticks soiree?
Funny how our insatiable appetites for more stuff and more experiences explode from the slightest trigger. Shouldn’t I feel enlightened and inspired by Pop’s generosity? His impact on lives beyond basketball? Nope. As scripture accurately depicts, my deepest feelings are not all that peachy:
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
– Jeremiah 17:9
At the same time, while struggling with my own FOMO, I try to hold the tension of the border trip I was a part of a month ago right outside of McAllen, TX. I worked with a group of 40 men helping immigrants in colonias. The people there have their own FOMO known as “survival.” Not wishing for a fulfilling career, but longing for a full stomach and mattress on which to sleep. I’m grateful the Lord has allowed me to see how most of the world lives, according to GlobalIssues.org, at least 80%of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. Astounding! I juxtapose that with what amounts to Disneyland here in Dallas, TX. Can I hold the tension? Tough to say. It’s a mixed bag of restlessness, shame and exponential gratitude for countless things I don’t deserve, like the glass of $10 wine I’ll drink tonight.
See ya next time. ML