I recently reread “The Old Man and The Sea”. Though I am not a real Hemingway fan, I love the story of Santiago and the marlin. If I were coaching today, I think I’d make it required reading for every player, and here’s why.
Santiago is a fisherman. It’s not just what he does. It’s who he is. Though he hasn’t had any success for 84 days, and all who are around him scoff at his bad luck, he looks upon his past success to find the confidence to push forward. Doesn’t every athlete have to do the same at some point in a season?
Santiago respects his competitor. He recognizes the beauty and strength of the marlin. He measures his own success by the fact he is battling such a worthy opponent, even going so far as to call the fish his brother. Santiago struggles to hide his weakness from his opponent, and he believes that even though he is older and weaker, he is smarter. His confidence never sways. Does that sound like someone you want on your team?
When Santiago is fully engaged in the battle of his life, he recognizes that his past success no longer matters. Though he is suffering physically, he concentrates on the task at hand. He knows he is over-matched, that he has gone out too far, but he clings to the belief that, “a man can be destroyed but not defeated”. That type of mental toughness is a must for an athlete to be successful.
With no crowd to cheer him on, and no witnesses to the feat, Santiago wins the battle of his life. He is totally exhausted and in excruciating pain, but it does nothing to damper the glorious satisfaction he gains from the victory. He has proved to himself that he is worthy, and that’s all that matters. Most athletes cherish these private moments when they realize they have done something they did not think possible.
Like most victories, however, this one doesn’t last long. Though Santiago fought valiantly for several days, he returned essentially empty-handed. Without the magnificent Marlin, he had no trophy, no food, and no money. In the end, all he had to show for his extraordinary effort was the effort itself, and that won the respect of his peers. It always does. Physically and emotionally spent, all Santiago could do was talk about his next fishing trip. After all, he was a fisherman. It’s who he was.
I’d love to have Santiago on my team.