In the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs have been to 7 straight AFC Championships and 5 Super Bowls. They won 3 Super Bowls. In Super Bowl 59, the Chiefs are on the brink of NFL history, if they win their third straight Super Bowl. Thus, completing the legendary Threepeat.
On the New Heights Podcast, brothers retired Philadelphia Eagles Center Jason Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs Tightend Travis Kelce discussed the Chiefs’ quest for the Threepeat.
Jason asked, “Do you guys enjoy being the villains of the NFL?”
Travis said, “I love it! I love it!”
Travis explained, “It makes you appreciate what you have, because people just want what you have.”
Travis, Patrick, Coach Andy Reid, and the Chiefs have greatness, are committed to it. They’ve sustained an unmatched level of greatness for the last 7 years. Does greatness make the Chiefs and Travis villains? Really?
In the 1990’s, the NBA GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls completed 2 NBA Championship Threepeats. Toward the end to the Bull’s last dance, Michael Jordan and the Bulls were the villains to many fans. WTF? That made no sense at all.
When the Chiefs won their first Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, they were the heroes. They were also the heroes for their second and third Super Bowl wins.
With the Chiefs on the verge of winning their 3rd straight Super Bowl, they’re now the villains. WTF? Patrick Mahomes is the generationally talented Quarterback, who might very well be the next GOAT NFL Quarterback, replacing GOAT Tom Brady. Travis Kelce might be the GOAT Tightend, who’s going to be a first ballot NFL Hall of Famer. Coach Andy Reid might be the GOAT NFL Coach, over Bill Belichick. He will be a first ballot Hall of Famer, too. What makes them the villains? Just asking.
Are the Chiefs and the Bulls villains, because they deserve to be? No. The Chiefs and the Bulls are villains, because of the haters. Haters are those who hate on the sustained greatness of others. Haters make villains of us.
In Shakespeare’s Othello, villain Iago said, “And what’s he then that says I play the villain.” Travis Kelce told his brother Jason, “Do your job… Focus on the task at hand.” Travis will play the villain and do his job. Just like MJ did his job. They work on being a great as they can be. That’s what makes them the GOATs. Haters make out others as villains. When they are the real villains. Vilifying others is not about the villains. It’s about the haters. It’s all about them.
Aikido Founder O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba said, “True victory is victory over oneself.” It’s only me against me. Not me against others. When I hate on others, make them the villains, that’s about me, not them. Do you vilify others, just because they are greater than you? Again, just asking.
There are always others, who are greater than me. That’s just the human design. When someone is greater than me, I could hate on them, make them the villain, or be inspired by them. Those who are greater than me, make me put my head down, put in the work. I work on myself, not on others. That’s all I can do. I have nothing to do with what goes on inside others. I have a lot to do with what goes on inside me. I love myself for who I am and forgive myself for who I’m not.
In over 35 years of Aikido training, I’m Godan (5th degree black belt). My Chief Instructor is Cognard Hanshi. Hanshi is the greatest, I’ve ever seen or experienced. I’m so grateful that he teaches me. After one of Hanshi’s seminars, my sensei Ishibashi Sensei, Ryokudan (6th degree black belt), said, “If he can do it, it’s possible I can.” Hanshi and Ishibashi Sensei are greater than me. I’ll probably never be as great as them. Still, they inspire me to just train. Be the greatest that I can be. They are my Heroes.
Haters can make Heroes into Villains. Haters hate greatness; they hate those who work on being great as they can be. Really, haters hate on themselves. It’s not about those they hate. It’s about themselves. They have to look in the mirror. They have to work on themselves.
We all have to love ourselves for who we are and forgive ourselves for who we’re not. Don’t hate. Just love.
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