Moment of Hope

Happy Tuesday! As a reminder, Full Court Press is using sports to remind us of what once was good, and what could be again. Since the last edition, the Super Bowl matchup has been set, Scottie won (again), and half the country froze over. Bundle up and grab some hot cocoa - if this newsletter doesn’t warm your soul, then your drink just might.

On Sunday, the New England Patriots clinched their spot in the Super Bowl, beating the Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos 10-7. Head coach Mike Vrabel is in his first year with the team after winning two Super Bowls as a Patriots player and leading the Tennessee Titans to the playoffs twice as their head coach from 2018-2023.

He had his ups and downs in Nashville, but one could easily see how a reunion with his former team would make for an excellent match.

Fast-forward a year and the team credits a kumbaya training camp tradition that brought them together.

Vrabel had the team go around and share the Four H’s¹: a part of their history, one hero, one moment of heartbreak, and one moment of hope.

This has the potential to be surface-level if not led correctly. We’ve all sat through a team meeting with about as much depth as a scooped out everything bagel where the intended emotional bonding missed the mark.

Vrabel went first, sharing his vulnerability with the team. This leadership (perhaps even the opposite of his macho, former linebacker persona) is what sets the standard for the rest of the team.

Without this bonding, would the Patriots be in the Super Bowl? Potentially so. I’m not sure his offensive linemen need to know that Drake “Drake Maye” Maye’s moments of hope are that his wife might have a new cookie recipe waiting at home.

But, as this newsletter attempts to promote, sports remind us about life. And our life impacts sports - playing and watching.

Where could you go a bit deeper with friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc. this week?

Share an example of one of your childhood heroes. A moment of sadness and a reason why you’re hopeful. These are the ways we form real connection with other humans.

Whether you’re throwing a back-shoulder fade or just introducing your manager for a sales presentation, I think Vrabel would suggest you could learn a bit more about your teammate. You might be surprised to find some common ground that brings you closer.

Since Phil Mickelson tweeted this last March, Scottie Scheffler has done the following:

This is insane and shows that Lefty whiffed on this hot take. Luckily for Phil, this is not intended to be an intense golf breakdown.

Scottie Scheffler notoriously questions the residual joy of winning golf tournaments. His answer? There is none. It disappears after a few minutes and you’re just left with an empty cup².

The greatest golfer in the world today is never going to reach perfection. I envy his mindset a lot - it’s really humbling to see examples of prime athletes or creatives genuinely love the art of practicing their craft.

Another reminder for me to get back in the lab. As I write this, I can try to make this the best newsletter you’ve read all day, all week, or all year. But, if that’s my goal, I’ll surely flop and you’ll all run away. Can’t do more than keep improving and having fun.

Bring a little Scottie into your mindset this week.

Technically it’s an answered question, but I found this parallel of the NFL and US History to be a fascinating one.

Also one for you to file away: the President with the shortest amount of time in office? William Henry Harrison - he was our 9th President for just one month (!)

He chose to not wear a coat for his outdoor inauguration, gave a two hour speech, and died of pneumonia a month later.

With gratitude,

Brandon