Sports

  • Happy Thanksgiving 2022!

    I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving! 

    This year, we continued our tradition of going to the Cowboys game – then having a big dinner together afterward.

    I got to spend time with both my sons and my first grandchild (who didn’t seem to want her picture taken while there was so many other things to investigate).

     

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    Thanksgiving is a reminder to be grateful for the blessings in your life – big and small. But it's also a time to be thankful for the challenges in your life – and the opportunities for growth.

    Often, when I think about what I want, the first thing I think of is what I don't want. Similarly, when I think about what's going well (or something worthy of being thankful for), I first think about what has been difficult or isn't above minimum standards yet.  Some things change quickly.  Apparently, human nature isn't one of them.

    Challenges are often hidden gold mines. Instead of thinking about them being obstacles for you, recognize that getting past them creates an obstacle for competitors. In other words, figuring out a strategy to achieve these lofty goals creates a new status quo and a sustainable competitive advantage.

    At Capitalogix, we often talk about "finding a way," "creating breakthroughs," and "setting new standards."  The reason is that most things an innovator wants are just outside their current capabilities (otherwise, they'd already have them).  

    Dealing with this on a daily basis requires a resilient mindset and the ability to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

    Having no problems either means you're blind to your flaws or aren't playing a big enough game (which is a problem in itself). 

    So, I am thankful for my health, my family and friends, and the quality of my life. But, I am also thankful for the stress, the challenges, and the opportunity to face a continually better class of challenges that forge a path to a bigger future.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

  • The Average NFL Player (By Position)

    Football season is officially underway!  In honor of that, here's a look at each position's composite "player" (as of 2019).

    As you might expect, different sports have different ratios of ethnicities.  For example, you might expect more Pacific Islanders in Rugby or Asians in Badminton.

    The same is true for various positions on a football team.  Offensive linemen are more likely to be white – while running backs are more likely to be black. 

    Here is a visualization that shows what happens when you average the top players' faces in various positions.

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    osmutiar via Reddit

    Composites are interesting.

    While you may be thinking "this player must be unstoppable" … statistically, he's average.

    The "composite" NFL player would be the 848th best player in the league.  He's not a starter, and he plays on an average team.  You probably don't know his name if you don't root for his team. 

    We found the same thing with our trading bots.  The ones that made it through most filters weren't star performers.  They were the average bots that did enough not to fail (but failed to make the list as top performers in any of the categories).  Meaning, the survivors were generalists – not specialists.

    In an ideal world, with no roster limits, you'd want the perfect lineup for each granular situation.  You'd want to evaluate players on how they perform under pressure, on different downs, against other players, and with different schemes. 

    That's what technology lets you do with algorithms.  You can have a library of systems that communicate with each other … and you don't even have to pay their salary (but you will need data scientists, researchers, machines, data, alternative data, electricity, disaster recovery, and a testing platform).

    You won't find exceptional specialists if your focus is on generalized safety.  Generalists are great, but you also have to be able to respond to specific conditions.

    Onwards.

  • Honoring Serena Williams

    Serena Williams officially retired on Friday after a loss in the third round of the US Open to 29-year-old Ajla Tomljanovic. Serena won her first Grand Slam Title 23 years ago in the same stadium. 

    Serena started playing professional tennis in 1995 as a 14-year-old.  Twenty-seven years later, she walks away from the game with 858 tour victories, an 85% win rate, 73 singles titles, an Olympic gold medal, and 319 weeks at No. 1. With her sister, Venus, they won 14 major doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals.

    Recently, I shared this graph that helps put the Williams sisters' dominance into perspective. 

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    via Yahoo!Sports

    Serena is undoubtedly one of the most dominant athletes – man or woman – in any sport. 

    To be great requires an extraordinary level of grit, determination, and pain tolerance over an extended period of time.  It isn't just what you choose to do from moment to moment – it's about a persistent commitment to who you choose to be!  

    During Serena's final match, an ESPN commentator said something interesting about what makes her (and many famous athletes) great.  For context, Serena was down 5-1 in the final set of the final match, with her opponent having won two sets already.  It's 'game point'.   To get here, Ajla will win a point, then Serena – it goes back and forth like that more than seven times.  Yet, Serena keeps finding a way to keep herself in the match despite everything going against her. 

    While this is going on, the commentator exclaims, "How can she care so much?  How can she keep dancing on the lip of the volcano?" 

    Imagine being in Serena's position.  She's 40, she's announced her retirement, the match has been going on for almost 3 hours, and her chances of coming back are almost nil … she has nothing left to prove … but she keeps finding more in the tank.  She keeps putting herself in a position to turn it around.  After the match, her opponent makes clear that she never once thought that Serena was out of it – that she couldn't turn it around and clinch victory. 

    It was beautiful – and it was a testament to the passion and discipline it takes to be that elite for that long. 

    There's a difference between good and great – but there's also a difference between great and the greatest. 

  • Some Cool “Futuristic” Tech You Might Not Have Seen

    I joke that I have a "tense" problem. I spend a lot of my time thinking about what will be possible in the future. And once I know something is possible, in my head, it has already happened.

    It isn’t a reality distortion engine … it is a reality creation engine.

    For me, this is centered around the way technology is transforming the world and how it affects my business. 

    Sometimes it's nice to take a step back and look at all the "quality of life" improvements. The gadgets that make you say "Wow!" … even though they may not benefit you directly. 

    So, here are a few that caught my eye over the last few weeks. 

    Augmented Reality Running 

    In 2020, Ghost Pacer put together a pair of AR glasses that would give you a virtual running partner. The app would analyze the running route and the wearer's desired goals and set them up against a virtual runner who would push them to their limits. 

    Last year, SNAP and Nike teamed up to create a new AR running experience as well. 

     

    Spectacles via YouTube

    This is a great way to get moving for those (like my wife) who benefit from a structure around their exercise. 

    Magnetic Slime Robot for Healthcare

     

    New Scientist via YouTube

    Watching the video of this slime is somewhat uncanny. Its movements feel almost lifelike. That being said, the potential for this custard-like slime worm is massive. It can navigate narrow passageways, grasp objects, and more. There are already plans to use this to remove foreign objects from people.  

    Functioning Hoverboards 

     

    RIDE via YouTube

    Multiple generations of kids have dreamed of hoverboards after watching Back To The Future. While it's not in homes yet, it is now a reality as seen in this video with Tony Hawk riding one. Unfortunately, since breaking into the scene in 2015 with a successful Kickstarter, I have not seen much from Hendo Hoverboard. 

    Thankfully, they're not the only company in the space anymore. If you're willing to drop almost 15K, you can own a working hoverboard from Arcaboard. 

    I remember when we used to go outside to play or exercise.

    We live in interesting times!  

  • A Look At The Best Athletes

    There is a huge difference between good and great.

    Apparently, there is often a huge difference between the great and the greatest.

    In sports, there are many fantastic athletes whose names we will remember.  Then there are the athletes who stand apart from the rest … like Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt. 

    I recently stumbled upon a few charts highlighting the stratification between the top 1% and the #1. 

    Tom Brady

    Screen Shot 2022-06-03 at 4.16.30 PMvia NY Times

    To put that statistic in perspective, no other quarterback has even played in 35 postseason games …  but that is another measure of Tom Brady's greatness. 

    Jerry Rice

    9ykdftkjfe391sdbernard via Reddit

    Some prominent names are missing from this list – like Julio Jones or Megatron – but, clearly, Jerry's performance stands apart from other legends of the game.  For context, Julio Jones only had 61 TDs, which is relatively low on this chart, but averages 92 yards per game … which is so high that he'd be off the chart. 

    Wayne Gretzky

    GoalsAssistsvia NumberHound

    Wayne Gretzky is a sports legend, but this chart really puts it in perspective.  Leader by a large margin in both assists and goals.  He also has one of my favorite quotes –

    “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

    Here's another interesting Wayne Gretzky stat: 

    Together, Wayne and Brent hold the NHL record for most combined points by two brothers – 2,857 for Wayne and 4 for Brent,[2] and are second overall in points scored by any number of brothers (behind the six brothers of the Sutter family who combined for 2,934 NHL points – 73 more than Wayne and Brent, although the Gretzkys' combined totals are greater than any five of the six Sutters.) – Wikipedia on Brent Gretzky

    Serena Williams 

    Chart_shows_just_how_much-82a81387685f09e2c50777f1027c79ebvia Yahoo!Sports

    What about Nature versus Nurture?

    Genetics and upbringing might play a part in greatness.  There are several great sibling combos like the Gretzkys, the Mannings, and the Williams sisters. 

    Both Venus and Serena are dominant athletes, but Serena is in the running for one of the most dominant athletes in any sport. 

    Have you seen any other crazy stats like these?  I'd love to see them. 

  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – May 1st, 2022

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    Here are some of the posts that caught my eye. Hope you find something interesting.

    Lighter Links:

    Trading Links:

  • The Power of Resilience and Grit

    I believe in setting high standards and committing to achieving them.  A big part of success is knowing that you can do anything you commit to … and then all you have to do is honor your commitment and continue to make progress.  As long as you don't stop … the rest takes care of itself.

    Said another way, resilience is the ability to recover from or adjust to misfortune or change, whereas grit is the passion and perseverance for long-term goals.  Sure, you will encounter errors, injuries, setbacks, competition, bad luck, and other practical realities of life.  But, together, resilience and grit make almost anything possible.

    Bottom line, if you want success of any kind, you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.

    When I was in high school, I was a state champion shot-putter.  The first time I got that title was during my junior year.  After winning, I watched my dad run down from the stands.  I figured he was coming down to celebrate.  Instead, he looked deeply into my eyes and asked whether I was disappointed?  I replied: "But Dad, I won!" He nodded and said he knew – but reminded me that I did not throw a personal best that day.  He recognized that winning was important too … Then he reminded me that the other throwers were not the real competition.  

    Going into my senior year, I had a multi-season undefeated streak.  However, I tore a tendon in my throwing hand at the end of the indoor track season where I won State again.  Fast forward to the first meet of the outdoor season … and I was on the sidelines with a cast on my hand.  A local reporter came up to me and asked how it felt to lose my unbeaten streak.  I was confused.  I wasn't losing … I just wasn't competing.

    But, the concept gnawed at me. 

    Ultimately, I cut the cast off my hand and tried unsuccessfully to wrap it tight enough that it didn't hurt.  When that didn't work, I slammed my hand against the floor until it was numb … I threw once and managed to win.  It got easier from there, and I ended the year undefeated.

    I think part of it is in my DNA.  My father and grandfather were both athletes.  My dad played football at Temple University (on the same team as Bill Cosby).  He thought he would continue playing with the Philadelphia Eagles, but his career was cut short by a car accident before tryouts.  And my grandfather was a professional wrestler named the Green Hornet, 

    Here is a picture of us together.

    83079882-e8c3-4f1b-899c-ad8551cf90fc 2Three Generations of Getsons

    My youngest son, Zach, was just selected to represent the USA in rugby in the Maccabi Games this July.  This selection comes after 3 ACL surgeries and countless other injuries.  And he's doing it in a sport with no pads at the ripe old age of 29. 

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    I continue to watch him get better at the game, despite adversity and what I like to call a "burst of slowness".

    He's currently raising money for his trip.  If you'd like to support his journey to represent the USA, you can learn more and do so here. 

    Despite our family's relative "accolades" in sports, we're not the fastest or most athletic people. 

    My dad used to joke that our people were meant to own the teams, not play for them. 

    So, despite the lack of raw athleticism, what drives us to success?  I believe the answer is mindset.

    The Secret To Success

    Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself.  It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation.

    My family jokes that my first complete sentence was "It's my way, and you're in it."  Meanwhile, I also believe that "the game isn't over until I win." Combine those beliefs … and it explains why my feet would still be moving toward my goals even if you shot me in the head.

    Likewise, my son has continued to reach new heights in rugby because he's stayed committed and hard-working long after most of his more athletic peers gave up.

    Life is not a sprint; it's a marathon. 

    How long can you put more effort in, and how many times can you fail without giving up?  The answer is as long as you choose! 

    The habits and lessons of resilience and grit serve well in sports, business, and life.

    Too many give up right before they win. 

    Frankly, too many people stop at the beginning.  But you will likely suck at something before you are okay at it.  Likewise, you have to be okay before you can be good.  Then you have to be good before you can be great!

    It takes time and energy to separate yourself from the pack. 

    My father taught me that most people's lives are defined by their minimum standards.  Why?  Because once those standards get met, it is easy to get distracted by other things and how to meet the minimum standards for them as well.

    Here is something else worth sharing; it was one of his favorite sayings.  "The difference between good and great is infinitesimal." People who are good take advantage of opportunities; people who are great create them.

    The secret to "better" is to set higher standards and commit to achieve them.

    It is really quite simple.

    1. Set big goals and high standards
    2. Plan how to get there
    3. Never stop moving
    4. Never give up

    If you follow those rules, it's hard not to succeed. 

  • A Busy Day …

    I was just in Arizona, at a Genius Network event. Listened to some interesting speakers, spent time with some great friends and business partners, and also got to share some ideas with them as well. 

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    My big takeaway for the weekend was on the power of contests and competition not just for attracting customers, but for hiring and as a catalyst to adoption and experimentation. 

    Unfortunately, my flight coincided with the first half of the Super Bowl.

    Luckily, the Cowboys avoided conflicting with my schedules.  I’d hate to think how I’d feel if I had to decide whether to attend the Super Bowl.

    Conveniently, being on a plane didn’t limit my ability to watch. 

     

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    Essentially every other person had the game on their device – so Zach and I could watch the game we don’t really care about while thinking about what could have been. 

    Do you think the Rams really have home-field advantage?

    Here’s an idea.

     

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  • Here Are Some Links For Your Weekly Reading – February 13th, 2021

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    Here are some of the posts that caught my eye. Hope you find something interesting.

    Lighter Links:

     

    Trading Links:

  • It Isn’t Whether Tom Brady Is Retiring – It’s About When … and Why We Care?

    In 2017, I wrote an article “asking” why the Patriots were so good. Then Tom Brady left, the Patriots have suffered (somewhat), and Tom Brady won another Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. 

     

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    Now, several sports pundits are reporting that he may be retiring. Tom Brady insists that he hasn’t made a final decision yet. 

    Of course, there is the matter of the $15 Million portion of his signing bonus that becomes payable to him on Friday. That might explain the “confusion” on timing?

    Regardless, all this talk reminded me about what makes Tom Brady special. 

    There is a difference between ‘luck’ and ‘skill’.

    Both exist … yet, luck favors the prepared.

    In life, as in sports, hard work often beats talent (especially if talent fails to work hard).

    But, when you see this picture from the 2000 NFL Combine, it’s hard to believe that Tom Brady would be a 7-time Superbowl MVP taking the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl in his first year with them. All at the geriatric (for an NFL player) age of 44. 

     

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    via CBS Sports

    When I talked about the Patriots, I focused on the fact that they were a well-oiled machine with a powerful framework of success that allowed individual greatness to shine. 

    I think Brady’s continued success is emblematic of that. 

    Tom Brady is a paragon of culture, process, and hard work. Much of his approach was molded by his time with Belichick, but of course, he gets enormous personal credit as well. 

    He expects the best of himself and brings out the best in his teammates. That’s enabled him to stay a top-level competitor despite not being the strongest, fastest, or most mobile QB (and that was when he was young). 

    As well, Tom Brady is remarkably consistent and disciplined; his diet, his routine, his exercise, his film routine, etc. All NFL athletes have impressive routines for the most part, but take a look at Tom Brady’s routine. It’s a routine built for him and his needs – and he’s got it dialed in. He doesn’t need to waste time trying to get big in the gym, so he focuses on 9-key exercises to support his goals. 

    The System is the ‘system’; but, within it, you can measure what works, who contributes, and then use those insights to identify the best things to try next.

    Win, lose, or draw … some things speak for themselves. And whether he retires today, next year, or never, we don’t need to wait five years to know he’s a Hall of Fame player with an incredible career.