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March 7, 2006
Greatness Beyond Numbers
Both were considered undersized overachievers, yet through strength of body and character reached the pinnacle of greatness in their respective sports and became Hall of Fame inductees. Both were respected by fans, teammates and opponents alike and became the most beloved sports icons ever within their adopted hometowns. Both wore jersey number 34 and died too young at age 45.
Beyond their common traits and dazzling stats, what made Kirby Puckett and Walter Payton so memorable was their effervescent personalities, their lifelong allegiance to their teams and their desire to perform best under pressure-packed circumstances. Puckett – "Puck" to Minnesota Twins fans – and Payton – "Sweetness" to Chicago Bears followers – made those around them better not just because of their personal accomplishments, but rather by the power of their personalities. And it's the latter that people will remember and appreciate far longer than their individual statistics.
Listen closely to those who mourn Puckett’s loss, and you’ll hear comments similar to those that followed Payton’s death in 1999 – phrases such as "team leader," "ever-present smile" and "infectious exuberance." Not coincidentally, all of these words are inscribed on Puckett's National Baseball Hall of Fame plaque.
You'll also be reminded of Puckett's top team accomplishments – World Series titles for the Twins in 1987 and 1991 – just as Bears fans were reminded of how Payton helped the Bears gain their lone Super Bowl win in 1985.
Occasionally but much less frequently you’ll hear about Puckett's individual statistics – line items like his .318 lifetime batting average and six Gold Gloves. It's not that these aren't important, it's just that in the end, our true value resides not so much in the numbers we’ve achieved, but rather in how we've earned them and how we’ve benefited others.
Given the strong numerical orientation of business and sports and our societal eagerness to crown glory upon those who achieve the best numbers, remember that numbers are still only a solitary means of measure. In business as in sports, those who gain true greatness have also earned the unflinching admiration of their teammates, fans and opponents. For a reminder, just remember the number 34.
Posted by Sean McDonnell at March 7, 2006 2:19 PM