4 Things That Make Tom Brady Special, According To His Friends
When Sports Illustrated named Tom Brady its Sportsperson Of The Year for 2021, much was made of his longevity and departure from the Patriots to start fresh in Tampa Bay at age 43, which ended in a Super Bowl victory for the Bucs. In the accompanying article, SI tried to paint a full picture of Brady’s life, career, motivations, and personality. While that included observations from coaches and teammates past and present, it also included thoughts on Brady from some friends.
For most athletes, quotes from “friends” would normally be former teammates or college buddies. However, since this is Tom Brady we’re talking about, the friend in question is Sam Reeves, an 87-year-old retired businessman Brady met on the golf course 20 years ago. And it was through the lens of that relationship that Reeves provided SI his thoughts on what makes Brady special:
What Makes Tom Brady Special According To His Friends
He makes people feel valued. That could mean really listening—he’s an extraordinary listener—to someone he’s meeting for the first time.
He thrives on excellence, for himself and those around him. He wants you to have what he has. He wants people to be the best they can—but he’ll help you get there.
He is a person of joy. Pain is inevitable—certainly in football—but misery is optional, and Tom does not accept misery. Tom runs the opposite way. He runs to joy.
Reeves then added a fourth thought on Brady that might also speak even more to his career longevity and leadership ability;
Tom keeps his routines, but he is open to adventures.
Sam Reeves is a cotton merchant who is better known for his love of golf than football. He certainly isn’t a football coach, player, or even an analyst. But his evaluation of what makes Tom Brady special as a person perfectly nails what’s made him such a great player, too.
If you’re a football player, or athlete in any other sport, following in Tom Brady’s footsteps may serve you well. Consider:
He makes people feel valued.
In any team sport, there are always great players. But, the best players are those who realize that they’re just a cog in a larger machine and that all the parts have to work in unison for the team to succeed. Even after 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven rings, Tom Brady still introduces himself to new teammates by simply extending a hand and saying, “I’m Tom Brady.” Merely by putting himself at the same level as his teammates, Brady contributes to each one feeling valued. And that’s how teams work together to win.
He thrives on excellence, for himself and those around him.
While Tom Brady’s extended run of championships is most often compared to that of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, the two approaches are almost opposites. While Jordan treated his teammates as bit players in his starring roles, it seems Brady wants his teammates and those around him to join in his success. Whether that drive manifests itself in Brady being more demanding of his teammates or simply helping his teammates be more is up for debate. But Brady’s desire to help his teammates succeed is something every athlete can learn from.
He is a person of joy.
Every athlete wants to win. And, while Brady has done plenty of winning, he’s had his losses too. But by focusing on joy, he lets the losses go and keeps his eye on the bigger prize. And for any athlete looking for help in the mental side of their game, keeping your focus on the successes you’ve had will always help you go farther than wallowing in losses and “what-ifs.”
Tom keeps his routines, but he is open to adventures.
Brady’s workout and diet regimens have been both the subject of admiration and ridicule. But like it or not, good or bad, the results speak for themselves. And if you want to push yourself farther as an athlete, there’s no reason you should train or eat in a certain way just because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” If something is working, stick with it. But don’t be afraid to try new methods to improve or push yourself even further.
Given his team success, individual awards, and longevity, Tom Brady will almost certainly go down as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. But, while Brady’s stats and championships are what he’s best known for, it’s those intangible qualities that have truly made him special. And while they may be small and subjective, applying Brady’s special qualities to your game might also help you be more successful on the field and in life.
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4 Things That Make Tom Brady Special, According To His Friends
When Sports Illustrated named Tom Brady its Sportsperson Of The Year for 2021, much was made of his longevity and departure from the Patriots to start fresh in Tampa Bay at age 43, which ended in a Super Bowl victory for the Bucs. In the accompanying article, SI tried to paint a full picture of Brady’s life, career, motivations, and personality. While that included observations from coaches and teammates past and present, it also included thoughts on Brady from some friends.
For most athletes, quotes from “friends” would normally be former teammates or college buddies. However, since this is Tom Brady we’re talking about, the friend in question is Sam Reeves, an 87-year-old retired businessman Brady met on the golf course 20 years ago. And it was through the lens of that relationship that Reeves provided SI his thoughts on what makes Brady special:
What Makes Tom Brady Special According To His Friends
He makes people feel valued. That could mean really listening—he’s an extraordinary listener—to someone he’s meeting for the first time.
He thrives on excellence, for himself and those around him. He wants you to have what he has. He wants people to be the best they can—but he’ll help you get there.
He is a person of joy. Pain is inevitable—certainly in football—but misery is optional, and Tom does not accept misery. Tom runs the opposite way. He runs to joy.
Reeves then added a fourth thought on Brady that might also speak even more to his career longevity and leadership ability;
Tom keeps his routines, but he is open to adventures.
Sam Reeves is a cotton merchant who is better known for his love of golf than football. He certainly isn’t a football coach, player, or even an analyst. But his evaluation of what makes Tom Brady special as a person perfectly nails what’s made him such a great player, too.
If you’re a football player, or athlete in any other sport, following in Tom Brady’s footsteps may serve you well. Consider:
He makes people feel valued.
In any team sport, there are always great players. But, the best players are those who realize that they’re just a cog in a larger machine and that all the parts have to work in unison for the team to succeed. Even after 10 Super Bowl appearances and seven rings, Tom Brady still introduces himself to new teammates by simply extending a hand and saying, “I’m Tom Brady.” Merely by putting himself at the same level as his teammates, Brady contributes to each one feeling valued. And that’s how teams work together to win.
He thrives on excellence, for himself and those around him.
While Tom Brady’s extended run of championships is most often compared to that of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, the two approaches are almost opposites. While Jordan treated his teammates as bit players in his starring roles, it seems Brady wants his teammates and those around him to join in his success. Whether that drive manifests itself in Brady being more demanding of his teammates or simply helping his teammates be more is up for debate. But Brady’s desire to help his teammates succeed is something every athlete can learn from.
He is a person of joy.
Every athlete wants to win. And, while Brady has done plenty of winning, he’s had his losses too. But by focusing on joy, he lets the losses go and keeps his eye on the bigger prize. And for any athlete looking for help in the mental side of their game, keeping your focus on the successes you’ve had will always help you go farther than wallowing in losses and “what-ifs.”
Tom keeps his routines, but he is open to adventures.
Brady’s workout and diet regimens have been both the subject of admiration and ridicule. But like it or not, good or bad, the results speak for themselves. And if you want to push yourself farther as an athlete, there’s no reason you should train or eat in a certain way just because “that’s the way it’s always been done.” If something is working, stick with it. But don’t be afraid to try new methods to improve or push yourself even further.
Given his team success, individual awards, and longevity, Tom Brady will almost certainly go down as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. But, while Brady’s stats and championships are what he’s best known for, it’s those intangible qualities that have truly made him special. And while they may be small and subjective, applying Brady’s special qualities to your game might also help you be more successful on the field and in life.
Read More