A Push for Q2 Close

As Q2 quickly comes to a close, I am sure most of you are being asked to push it to the limit to close out yet another quarter (weren’t we just closing Q1?). From one hard driver to another I thought you would enjoy the following to encourage you to swing for the fences for the remainder of Q2 and eliminate all potential Bill Buckner moments.

Red Sox Win World Series
It took 86 years, included insufferable losses to the hated New York Yankees and monumental gaffes seemingly replayed constantly, but the Fenway Park faithful finally danced in the streets when their beloved Boston Red Sox won the 2004 World Series in a sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals. Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Curt Schilling, et al., ended the agony that tormented Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, Luis Tiant, et al.

Ripken breaks record
On Sept. 6, 1995, with President Clinton in attendance, Oriole Park at Camden Yards rocked when native son Cal Ripken Jr. broke the ironman record of 2,130 consecutive games played set by the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig. With a home run for good measure, and a midgame romp around the field, Ripken helped restore luster to a sport torn apart by the 1994-95 players strike and subsequent owners lockout. The streak of 2.632 consecutive games played ran from May 30, 1982 to Sept. 19, 1998. Ripken entered the Hall of Fame on July 29, 2007.

Tiger wins first Masters
In the Deep South, at a club whose members do not look like him, on a hallowed course where legends Jones, Hogan, Nicklaus and Palmer carved out shots for history, Tiger Woods earned a victory “for the ages” in winning the green jacket in 1997 at The Masters in Augusta, Ga. The game of golf has not looked the same since.

Villanova upsets Georgetown
The No. 1-seeded Georgetown Hoyas were overwhelming favorites to successfully defend their 1984 NCAA men’s basketball title when they met No. 8-seeded Villanova on April Fools’ Day. The Hoyas’ senior superstar center, Patrick Ewing, only months later would become the first pick of the NBA draft. But Ed Pinckney, Dwayne McClain, Harold Pressley, Harold Jensen, Gary McLain and teammates hit 79% of their shots, including 90% in the second half, under the direction of animated coach Rollie Massimino. The Wildcats won 66-64.

N.C. State upsets Houston
Jim Valvano in a daze, trying to find someone to hug, is as unforgettable an image as Lorenzo Charles, moments earlier, dunking after grabbing Dereck Whittenburg’s desperation heave to give North Carolina State the 1983 NCAA men’s basketball title. How improbable was it? N.C. State was the first champion with 10 losses, had lost six of eight in one stretch of the regular season and only qualified for the NCAA tournament by winning the ACC tournament. But the Wolfpack never gave up.

Nicklaus, at 46, wins ’86 Masters
He had missed the cut in three of seven tournaments, withdrew from another and hadn’t won a tournament in two years. His last major title was in 1980. But with an 18th (and final) major in sight, the Golden Bear sank a 12-foot putt for eagle at No. 15 in the final round. That brought a smile even to the stoic Nicklaus, whose son Jack was his caddie. “It’s about the only television event (that) when I see it come on television, I actually stop and watch a little bit of it,” Nicklaus says.

Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary pass
Six seconds to go. Forty-eight yards to a touchdown. Team trailing 45-41 at Miami’s Orange Bowl. That’s what faced the 5-9 quarterback for Boston College on Nov. 23, 1984, when he scrambled and tossed up a prayer. Three receivers and three defenders begin converging toward the end zone, with BC’s Gerard Phelan snagging the catch, cradling the ball as if it were “my firstborn.” Flutie won the Heisman Trophy, and played professionally in the USFL, CFL and NFL until retiring in 2006.

Kirk Gibson walk-off homer
Two outs, bottom of the ninth, man on first for the Los Angeles Dodgers, future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley on the mound for the Oakland Athletics. Gibson, soon to be named NL MVP, is summoned to pinch-hit despite hamstring and knee problems. He works the count to 3-2. Jack Buck makes the TV call: “Gibson swings, and a fly ball to deep right field. This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game 5-4. I don’t believe what I just saw. I don’t believe what I just saw.” Gibson’s only at-bat of the Series sends the Dodgers on their way to winning the championship.

U.S. women win ’99 World Cup
Before 90,185 at the Rose Bowl, the largest crowd to witness a women’s sporting event, Brandi Chastain beats China goalkeeper Gao Hong for a 5-4 edge in penalty kicks to break the overtime tie and give the USA the soccer title after two hours of play under a broiling sun. Chastain flings off her white uniform jersey, sparkling confetti envelops the field, U.S. players hug and dance and the Chinese graciously applaud the victors. TV ratings were 2 points higher than for the ’99 NBA Finals.

Bill Buckner error
If only Boston relievers could have held the 5-3 advantage with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6, the 1986 World Series would have been over and the Red Sox would have had their first title since 1918. But Calvin Schiraldi gave up three consecutive singles to make it 5-4. Bob Stanley relieved and threw a wild pitch, allowing in the tying run. Few remember all that. What is remembered: Mookie Wilson’s soft grounder down the first-base line that went underneath the glove and through the legs of sore-ankled Buckner, allowing Ray Knight to score the winning run for the New York Mets, who go on to win and take Game 7. Thus are born endless references to having a “Bill Buckner moment.”

Christian Laettner jumper sends Duke into ’92 NCAA Final Four
Grant Hill throws the ball three-quarters of the way upcourt. Laettner, at the free throw line, makes the catch, pivots, takes one dribble, fakes right to clear his defender, spins left and shoots the fadeaway — all in less than 2.1 seconds to beat the final buzzer. The 17-foot jumper caps an overtime thriller as Duke beats Kentucky 104-103 in the East Regional final and goes on to successfully defend its ’91 NCAA title.

Armstrong wins seven consecutive Tours de France
In 1996, Lance Armstrong was the top-ranked cyclist in the world when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that had spread to his brain and lungs. Aggressive chemotherapy worked, and in 1999 he began his Tour de France title run that ended in 2005 only by retirement.

Gretzky sets NHL scoring record
The Great One, who holds virtually every major offensive record in the NHL, became the all-time leading scorer Oct. 15, 1989, passing Gordie Howe’s 1,850 points as a member of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky played nine more seasons, ending with 2,857 points in a 20-year NHL playing career. Gretzky was the leading scorer in 10 seasons, nine times was the MVP and twice the playoff MVP and made 18 consecutive All-Star Game appearances. (Adapted from Glory, Heartbreak, Infamy USA Today 6/11/2007)

See you in the trenches - vmsteveo

Bring on the Criticism

Bring on the Criticism

Being a lightning rod for criticism has its advantages. Just ask Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott, who says criticism has led to new business opportunities. When people criticized the company for not providing adequate health care for its employees, Scott and other managers tried countering with facts, such as the percentage of employees with insurance.

Then a consultant pointed out how much energy they were spending rebutting accusations. Instead, why not focus on what would help employeeswith their health insurance? Not only did Lee’s team find ways to improve employee health care plans, they realized that many of their customers probably wanted a less expensive way to get health care, too.

So Wal-Mart set up in-store clinics that offer standard treatments and services for low, fixed prices of $19 to $59. The company plans to open several hundred more clinics.
ExecLeadership.com — Adapted from “Criticism May Produce Innovation, Wal-Mart CEO Scott Says,” Margaret Steen, Stanford GSB News.

See you in the trenches - vmsteveo