On ESPN The Pat McAfee Show, Pat asked retired NFL Quarterback Tom Brady regarding Quarterback Patrick Mahomes possibly being the next GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Tom is now the GOAT.
Tom said, “There’s nothing that Patrick can do in my opinion to take away from what I tried to accomplish in my career. And there’s nothing that I did that takes away from what he’s trying to accomplish. I feel all I tried to do is try to be the best that I could be.”
Of his childhood heroes, Tom said, “I could never be Joe Montana or Steve Young, John Elway, Johnny Unitas…”
He said, “If anyone can win 7 Super Bowls… Whoever that is, I want to give them a big hug.” Inevitably, Tom gets that there will be the next GOAT. That might be Patrick Mahomes. Tom’s gracious humility makes him the GOAT, as well.
After the Kansas City Chiefs victory over the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship, Tom texted his friend who plays with Patrick. Tom said, “Tell him congrats! Just awesome to watch him play. And I love watching him lead his team.” Given all Patrick Mahomes’s talent and physical gifts, Tom is most inspired by his leadership. That matters.
Tom told Pat McAfee, “I love people who are selfless.” That’s Patrick Mahomes. That’s Tom Brady. That’s what makes them the GOAT and future GOAT. It’s not all about Patrick or Tom. It’s about others. Meaningful legacy inspires others to be great, be as great as they can be.
However great we may be or whatever greatness we achieve, our time will come to an end. Time is undefeated. That’s the human design. I give everything away so that those who take my place are greater than me. And perhaps the world is greater for that. At least that’s my wish.
About 25 years ago I started teaching Jackson Aikido. Of course, we both learned from the late Mizukami Sensei, our GOAT Sensei. Jackson graciously gave his permission to be Sensei. He came to all my classes. Jackson was amazing and gifted. I did everything I could to make him the greatest that he could be.
Now, Jackson and I are Godan (5th degree black belt). Jackson is now my Sensei. He teaches me. He’s greater than I am. And I could not be prouder of him. I wanted to give everything I got from the late Mizukami Sensei and Ishibashi Sensei to Jackson so that he could be greater than me. So when I ride off into the sunset, I’ll smile knowing that Jackson is part of my legacy. Much like I’m part of Mizukami Sensei and Ishibashi Sensei’s legacies.
About 30 years ago I had forsaken becoming a father, fearing that I might become like my Father, become what I feared. I did not want to make my children, possibly my son suffer for that. Not becoming a father might be my second greatest regret in life. My first regret was getting mad at Mom and giving her such a bad time when I was a little boy, because I couldn’t get mad at my Dad. That would only have ended badly.
The late Mizukami Sensei taught me Aikido for 25 years until he passed away. He taught me Aikido and what it is to be a good man: Be of service to others and make a difference. Sensei was a father to me. He showed me what it was to be a good father, too. Sensei was a leader of men. I’ve tried to do that as the Sensei he trained.
Over my 35 years in Aikido, I’ve helped train and teach about 50 black belts. When I taught Adam, I taught my 14-year-old self, who could never make a mistake, who had to be perfect. In giving kindness to Adam, I gave kindness to 14-year-old Jon, who needed that so badly from Dad. I taught Adam, Jerry, Brian, Tim, and others who I could not be prouder of than the son I never had. I can happily ride off into the sunset knowing that they are Good Men in the world. Although, I’m not riding off just yet. Not yet.
I’m with Tom Brady about embracing our mortality and giving it all away. Although I’m not the GOAT like Tom and never will be, we want those who come after us to be greater than us. We pass on all that we got from others who came before us. That’s our job. Our responsibility.
So, when we finally do ride off into the sunset, we smile knowing that we did our best. That we got our job done. Amen.
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Photo by Sam Moghadam Khamseh on Unsplash
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