Triple Threat
It’s that time of year – as some sports seasons are starting up, others are winding down. A good way to win a friendly wager is to challenge the devoted baseball, basketball, or hockey fan (especially in New York) with this question:
Who played for baseball’s New York Yankees, basketball’s New York Knicks, and hockey’s New York Rangers – all in the same season?
Before we reveal the answer, here are a few observations that may facilitate your thinking about this trivial pursuit and about the process of leadership and people recognition.
The first observation is that language is a slippery thing. Meaning is easily twisted by our own preconceptions.
In a case like our little quiz, it’s intentional and part of the fun. In the workaday world, in the rush to impart our own interpretation to words or events, we sometimes stop at our first thought and miss the point the presenter intends. Good listeners and good leaders don’t rush to conclusions.
Another observation is about people. When challenged to think of the player who, it would seem, has done something extraordinary, it’s natural to first think about the legends and heroes of sports. But it’s important to keep the unsung heroes in mind too.
Superstars grab headlines and win games. Their achievements can outshine the contribution of others. But wise leaders remain mindful that most accomplishments, in business and sports, are team efforts. Over time, the consistent but perhaps unspectacular performance of the journeyman provides the base from which greatness is achieved. So keep in mind all who contribute to the team, day in and day out, on the field of play and off.
So what is the answer to our teaser? Who played for all three teams in one season?
Organist Eddie Layton!
