There are few things I am sure of in this life, but this one I know both from anecdotes and experience. The only thing George Steinbrenner loved as much as his Yankees was the U.S. Olympic team, and his support for the (now) USOPC; its stories, its athletes, and coaches was unwavering, and continues on with the Steinbrenner family today.
It was with that knowledge that I took some time to attend a special event at a new organization designed to help former athletes from all walks of life grow as businesspeople and individuals (it is called The Post, and it was co-founded by former NFL quarterback Christian Ponder and longtime sports business executive Jason LaRose) and a screening of George Clooney’s new film, “The Boys In The Boat,” the rags to riches story of the 1936 Olympic rowing team from the University of Washington that took gold away from Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
I wasn’t sure what to expect on both stops that night, but I came away inspired and impressed both times.
First on the gathering before the film. It was amazing to see a space in Soho filled with over 100 former college athletes in various careers…from college rowers and volleyball players to lacrosse players and footballers…all gathered to talk about a topic that again Mr. Steinbrenner loved; the success of the underdog. The discussion was led by two amazingly accomplished women who had just lived the rise from the ashes experience; Mary Wittenberg and Yael Averbuch who had just led Gotham FC (Mary leading the business side, Yael as head of soccer) on a worst-to-first run to win the NWSL championship. Their talk of teaching young people, building consensus, listening and learning, and then being able to take advantage of a moment when presented really resounded with the people in the room, and provided lessons well beyond a soccer pitch that I’m sure everyone took away with them as they traveled just a few blocks down Broadway to see the film. It was an impressive first step for a great evening.
Then on to the film. Suffice it to say the talk provided the perfect appetizer for what we then saw, as the movie, based on the bestseller by Daniel James Brown, mirrored what these two NWSL leaders had to say…teamwork literally makes the dream work. For those who love stories of the underdog, tied to sport and life lessons, you should run…or row…to see this film. It is for rowing what “Rudy” was for college football, “Hoosiers” was for basketball, “Chariots of Fire” was for running, and even a bit of what “Miracle” was for hockey. Its main theme we heard over and over again, “eight as one” (meaning that they could not succeed unless all eight in the boat were literally rowing in the same direction) is a life lesson about teamwork and going above and beyond oneself that we all need to be reminded of constantly in a world that is just about me. Director Clooney, who I have been lucky enough to spend some time with on the basketball court with some Yankees back in the day, perfectly captured the excitement of sport with the nuances of history that really makes you lean forward in your chair while watching in the theater. The cinematography and the attention to detail was amazing, and you leave the theater wanting more, which is what great storytelling on film does.
Now maybe some will say that this is an homage to a bygone era of sport, especially an Olympic world that is about corporate success. Humbug, as another character of a Christmas-themed film liked to say. This film serves as a reminder of what is at the core of success in business, in life, and in sports; how we all need to work together to achieve the amazing. It’s what Gotham FC did on the soccer pitch just a few weeks ago, it’s what these amazing Olympians did in 1936, it is what The Yankees always aspire to do, and it is what Mr. Steinbrenner always loved, and its why his organization, and the Olympics, were two of his great loves.
“The Boys In The Boat” is a winner, and it certainly is a movie our beloved Yankees owner would have enjoyed. Mr. Steinbrenner’s favorite film (as is mine) was “Pride of the Yankees,” because of the heart and soul its star Gary Cooper put into portraying Lou Gehrig. I’d say as a director, George Clooney does the same thing here. “The Boss” would have left the theater inspired, just like we all were on a cold December night.
Put it on your “must-see” list when it comes out Christmas Day.
