What Luka Modric And Michael Jordan Have In Common
They are both....
I’m currently on pace for a psychotic one-book-per-week. That’s right: 52 books, one calendar year. If nothing else, 2024 will be remembered for the year I learned something. It entails: switching out my workout playlist — which consists of a combination of deep house, progressive trance, Hans Zimmer, Daft Punk, and hip-hop — for audio books. Audio books on double speed.
I came to this conclusion because one of my mentors, who is far ahead of me in terms of success, does this.
At first, I hated the idea. My workouts are therapy, in part, because I get to listen to some motivating tracks to help me lift heavy weights. The thought of switching out battle drums in favour of a human talking in my ear sounded terrible.
But I gave it a shot, and never looked back, and in the process, flew through a couple dozen books.
By the way: Come see me in New York
The above has nothing to do with the eventual story I’m getting to, which is this:
I’m currently reading ‘Relentless’ by Tim Grover. That’s ‘Michael Jordan’s trainer Tim Grover’ to you, just in case you didn’t recognize his name. He also trained Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade, among many other successful people. He trained them not only physically, but also mentally.
I’m half way through, and had to pause the book multiple times to reflect on what I just consumed, as well as to take notes here and there.
One part of it reminded me of Luka Modric:
“Michael set the standard for killer instinct and competitive drive. Each time his Chicago Bulls sealed another championship (there were six), he wouldn’t just hold up the number of fingers for the rings he had already won, he’d hold up an extra finger for the next championship.
After the first win, he held up two.
After the second, he held up three.
After the fifth, he held up six.”
Grover goes on to mention that, in the locker-room after the championship was attained, while the walls were still plastered with champagne, Jordan would be telling him what part of his game he needs to improve on in the off-season in order to win even more the following season.
Remember in 2022, after Real Madrid’s historic Champions League title, Real Madrid’s players found Luka Modric in the locker-room talking about winning the 15th — mere seconds after winning the 14th? That’s the type of leader you need in your team. Winners. Too extreme? Unhealthy? Negative. It might not be for you, but it’s for your team’s best players. It’s for you to enjoy their success as a fan. You want all your teams to have serial-winners — figures who never have their bellies full.
What’s 15 when you can win 16? Can Modric win seven Champions League titles — separating himself from Paco Gento, Toni Kroos, and Nacho? It’s on the table. And if he does attain it, I will wager he was an important part of the run, just like he was this season off the bench, and just like he was in 2022, when he manifested his will in the most unlikely circumstances. Modric, unapologetically, took out his big balls, and swung them in the direction of every PSG, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Liverpool player.
May you all be blessed with 10% of the size of Modric’s balls. May you swing them, relentlessly.
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I’m selling one chapter of my upcoming book, secretly. You can purchase it here. Don’t share this link, it’s only for you, just in case you wanted a sneak peak.
The ending was proper never-let-them-know-your-next-move stuff.