A man of greatness is able to differentiate and determine which of his many outstanding qualities and wonderful attributes are most applicable for any situation. He is aware of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s famous words, “… A foolish inconsistency is the hobgoblin of little minds …” and is cognizant that different circumstances require different actions, no matter how incongruent, contrasted or out of character they appear. Thus, an athlete of greatness plays his sport in a certain manner and acts completely different off the field. He is a veritable Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde lifted from the pages of the Robert Louis Stevenson thriller, in the sense that his on-field presence is aggressive, violent and destructive beyond compare while his off-field demeanor is pious, humane and thoughtful. The perfect personification of this duality is Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On the field, Polamalu is a whirlwind of intensity. He has studied offensive tendencies and formations to such a degree that he is able to make nimble and split-second adjustments which allow him to exploit the slightest of opportunities. He races from side to side, front to back and vice versa, before the snap. Once the ball is snapped, he is a reckless, sensational blur. His ball-hawking ability, bone-rattling hits and relentless pursuit enable him to be everywhere at once. Or so it seems. His pell-mell, ultra-aggressive, almost maniacal dashes to glory are game-changing and influential to opponents who must try to plan for this unconventional missile. He is respected. And feared.
Off the field, Polamalu is a soft-spoken, spiritual, family man. His demeanor is placid, friendly, calm and peaceful. He spends as much time in contemplation and prayer as he does in physical preparation. His profession is important; his family, his faith, and his soul are even more important. He strengthens all facets of himself, at the expense of none. He is balanced and prepared for all disparate tasks. He uses his full range of attributes, from acquiescent to vicious, depending on his arena and his audience. He is many things, and he is all things. He is a great football player, and a great man.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
On the field, Polamalu is a whirlwind of intensity. He has studied offensive tendencies and formations to such a degree that he is able to make nimble and split-second adjustments which allow him to exploit the slightest of opportunities. He races from side to side, front to back and vice versa, before the snap. Once the ball is snapped, he is a reckless, sensational blur. His ball-hawking ability, bone-rattling hits and relentless pursuit enable him to be everywhere at once. Or so it seems. His pell-mell, ultra-aggressive, almost maniacal dashes to glory are game-changing and influential to opponents who must try to plan for this unconventional missile. He is respected. And feared.
Off the field, Polamalu is a soft-spoken, spiritual, family man. His demeanor is placid, friendly, calm and peaceful. He spends as much time in contemplation and prayer as he does in physical preparation. His profession is important; his family, his faith, and his soul are even more important. He strengthens all facets of himself, at the expense of none. He is balanced and prepared for all disparate tasks. He uses his full range of attributes, from acquiescent to vicious, depending on his arena and his audience. He is many things, and he is all things. He is a great football player, and a great man.
From October 2010, http://raising-a-man.tumblr.com
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