Lessons to live by from No. 6
In my first 50 years of life I have been both cursed and blessed to watch Bobby Cox manage the Braves to National League division titles, pennants and a World Series win. Cursed because I was a die-hard Mets fan throughout my formative years, and every Braves’ division title was at the expense of the Amazin’ Mets. Blessed because after moving to Atlanta in ’98, and closely observing how Cox led my adopted hometown nine, I slowly shifted allegiance and began to pull for guys nicknamed Chipper, Big Cat, Bulldog and the Jay-Hey Kid.
Here are seven life lessons I have learned observing Cox at work and play in the ball fields of the Lord:
1. Do your homework. When the umpire yelled, “Play ball!” Cox was relaxed and raring to go. He was ready because he’d already studied the other team’s tendencies, strengths and weaknesses. He prepared his players for whatever might come. He told his pitchers, batters and coaches beforehand what to anticipate. During the game you could see him refer to his pad of notes. By taking care of what is his responsibility and letting others do theirs, he put his team in position to win.
2. Take the 162-game season one series at a time. We have cultural yearning to look too far ahead. Cox focused on the task at hand. He encouraged his players to tackle one game or series at a time rather than get caught up in what is far beyond our reach or ability to affect. Focus on what is before you today and give it your all, then trust that the long run will be taken care of as well.
3. Encouragement works. “Take your pitch, Chipper!” “Go get ‘em, Billy!” Braves batters at the plate and on the mound heard their coach offer cheerful, pithy words of encouragement. Whether his guy is hitting .340 or .225, regardless of the score or the inning, Cox rooted his guys on and willed for them to do well. His cheerleading was unconditional. Don’t think for one second his players didn’t appreciate or cherish his undivided attention simply because they are adults.
4. Hustle. If you want to be an Atlanta Brave, expect to run out weak ground balls. Players who jog to first or saunter after a fly ball woke up the next morning to discover they were on another team.
5. Practice loyalty, even when it’s not popular. If there was anything Cox did that drove me crazy, it was his loyalty. Slumping batters, streaky pitchers, bumbling fielders get so many chances to fight and claw their way out of their doldrums that I have been known to direct harsh thoughts in his general direction. And yet, it was his loyalty that has won titles, saved careers and earned him his players’ undying devotion. Mine, too. Be like Bobby. Stand by those who go through slumps or get stuck. God is loyal, and we can be so too.
6. Surround yourself with good people. We are not surprised that so many of Cox’s former players and assistant coaches have gone on to become managers. He put himself in position to succeed by intentionally working alongside people of good moral character and with complementary skills. Whenever there was a concern to be addressed in the clubhouse, Cox trusted his veteran players and coaches to take care of it. A healthy community can make a world of difference.
7. Every day is a fresh start. Cox treated every game as a new beginning. The player who wore a golden sombrero (four strikeouts) the night before got to start the next day, and he knew that his manager would have high hopes and no regrets.
You may have additional lessons that you have learned by watching a master craftsman. I would love to hear them. Meanwhile, my friends, join me in applying what Bobby Cox modeled day in and day out.
The Rev. James L. Brewer-Calvert is senior pastor at First Christian Church in Decatur.
