Larry The Legend Takes on Baseball
The Athlete in Question
Larry Bird
The Performance in Question
May 2nd, 1972, Indiana State Baseball Game
The Story
In 1972, Larry Bird led the Indiana State basketball team to a nearly perfect season, losing just one game – The National Championship – and going 33-1. He was modest, he was soft-spoken, and he was humble. These attributes might make some seem soft, but there was one that towered over these, making him “Larry The Legend,” that a 30-foot statue now embodies outside the Hulman Center basketball arena where he played in college. That character skill - confidence.
How do we get what Larry seems to have all of?
After the Sycamores lost to Magic Johnson in the Finals, Larry Bird got in a playful argument with Bob Warn, the head coach of the baseball team. With a non-conference double header coming up, Bob Warn (who the baseball field is now named after and a legend of his own at Indiana State) called Larry out. Coach Warn basically said there’s no way Bird could compete on the baseball field.
So, what did Larry, a man oozing confidence, do? Well he suited up of course! He then proceeded to go 1-2, drove in two runs, and retired with one of the best batting averages in ISU baseball history.
How Does This Apply to YOU?
I was asked the other day, “Tyler, do you think there’s a correlation between an athlete’s confidence on the field and their confidence when taking a test?”
I said, “No. If that were the case, then your best athlete would also be your best student, but that rarely happens.”
The same thing goes for Larry Bird. He was great on the basketball court, but he had no idea what collegiate baseball held in store. Before the game, he actually pulled Coach Warn behind the dugout. Larry told him not to play him. He didn’t want to let the team or the fans (3000+ in attendance) down. He didn’t want to hurt the team because of a stupid little bet they had.
You see, the greatest player in Indiana State University HISTORY, a man who had unshakable confidence on the court, was worrisome about his upcoming performance.
The most elite in the world know one thing though, you don’t have to FEEL great to perform well: Michael Jordan’s flu game, Jake Arrieta throwing the worst bullpen of his life before tossing perfect game, or Kobe Bryant knocking down two free throws with a torn achilles.
It was Larry Bird’s confidence and success on the court that got him a chance to play collegiate baseball, but it was his ability to act in the face of uncertainty that makes this story great. He could’ve struck out every time up at the plate and this story would be awesome, because he already won when he laced up the cleats and took the field. Taking action is almost always the answer.
When you feel worthless – take action and clean up your house.
When you feel self-doubt – take action and remind yourself of past WINS.
When you feel depressed – take action and go for a bike ride.
When you feel lonely – take action and write down your thoughts.
When you feel overwhelmed – take action and start checking off your to-do list.
When you feel stuck – take action and come up with a plan to get unstuck.
If you’re hesitant to ask for that promotion or get to the gym because you’re afraid you might fail (again), that is a normal and human feeling, but as we saw with Larry Bird, feelings aren’t facts. Take action in the face of “negative” feelings and watch yourself prosper.
If you’re feeling stuck, self-doubt, lack of self-confidence, or overwhelmed, or you have an athlete you need help getting unstuck, sign up for a free 15-minutes connector call below.
