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00:00:00Manhood, brought you in part by Reboot, Superfarm and Solomon's Bespoke.
00:00:11Welcome to another edition, another episode of Manhood, where we always aim to be better as brothers.
00:00:19And the conversation in the last couple of episodes have really been around sport and the importance of sport
00:00:24and the importance of sport as it relates to, in some ways, curbing crime.
00:00:29Today's conversation, our topic today is no different, but we try to go a bit deeper into that
00:00:36by where we're talking now about life lessons, either learn through sport or life lessons as partaking in sport.
00:00:43So we're going to get straight into it.
00:00:44Johan C.I.O.D.K., Behaviour Change Consultant.
00:00:48To his right, Sebastian Paddington, Olympian.
00:00:51And to his right, needs no introduction, Jason Williams, JW, Media Personality, the Morning Brew host.
00:00:59You know, so many other titles.
00:01:02Friend, you know, one of my, I would say, one of the longest friends that I've had in this business in entertainment.
00:01:11You know, when I started, you know, I remember Jay was my roommate in some of the things that we did like at BET.
00:01:18I don't know if you remember those days.
00:01:19Of course, man. Foundation.
00:01:21Foundation.
00:01:21The only thing that upsets me is he's an Arsenal fan.
00:01:24But, you know, that aside.
00:01:26Yeah, we have that going all the time.
00:01:28Yeah, that aside, you know, you can't be perfect, you know, like this guy here, you know, with the maroon or red jacket, you know.
00:01:35Looking suave today.
00:01:36I'll give you that.
00:01:36Always.
00:01:36I'll give you that.
00:01:37Never miss.
00:01:38Yeah, never miss.
00:01:39Never miss.
00:01:39So let's get into it, guys.
00:01:41Life lessons.
00:01:42Life lessons on the whole.
00:01:44You know, we, those who may not have partook in sport growing up, but there are certain things, either watching sport, being involved in sport, having other people involved in sport.
00:01:58What are some of the things that we may think when we think life lessons?
00:02:03Well, first, I'm looking at healthy competition, right?
00:02:08And I'm saying healthy first because I'm sure we've seen unhealthy competition too in sport.
00:02:13But one thing I appreciate when I see two or more people actually push to do their best.
00:02:22And even though there's always a winner most times, right, and a second place or maybe a third place or a winner and a loser, it's good to see when two people or two or more people push.
00:02:32Because it's like when you say football, if you see two sides playing good football, even though there's a winner and a loser, you'll see football win.
00:02:41Yes.
00:02:41Right?
00:02:41If you see somebody compete, even if it's a single athlete and you know that person put the all into it, it gives you inspiration to, even though you have no talent in sport, when you see them push, you know, it takes something from you.
00:02:54So I would say I start in the ball with, that's a lesson I would take from sportsmen in general and from sports.
00:03:00You know, as you said, football wins, just to bring it back to, you know, that, anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge Manchester United fan.
00:03:10And even though we're not doing well at the moment, a lot of times it's not just about the win.
00:03:14Of course, everybody wants that win, you want that three points or you want that trophy.
00:03:18But if you see a good football game, like even back in the day, a good Manchester United Arsenal game, even though you may not come out the victor at that particular game,
00:03:27as you said, football wins, you can look back and say, wow, that, that really is something I enjoyed watching that, that, that, that football game.
00:03:34So, and that, that in itself is the life lesson from that is the inspiration you would get from looking at that, looking at the work, that the, the work ethic, looking at how people put into that.
00:03:44You know, we hear some of these stories about, you know, training may start at 10, but Cristiano, Cristiano Ronaldo is there from six o'clock.
00:03:51You know, he doesn't drink soft drinks and all these different things.
00:03:54So the, the, as you go along, the continued life lessons as it pertains to even watching sport, even though you might be playing, you can certainly appreciate what it, what, what, what they do.
00:04:05Yeah, I mean, I, I agree.
00:04:07I think what you want to say said in terms of discipline and cups and learning to lose is a very good lesson in life too, because you know, I was going to win.
00:04:15And I mean, LeBron, he's on top, he's not on top, but regardless, you know, you know, when he goes to a game, a game at 8 p.m., from 10 a.m., he's in the arena.
00:04:25He's massaging, stretching, eating, resting, warming up, and he's not at top right now, but he's going to get back on top.
00:04:31I think sport teaches you how to, how to lose, but also how to win.
00:04:34And in my, in my business, for example, when sportsmen apply for jobs by me, if I always give them the edge, because they're disciplined, they know, even when they're down, they're not going to feel sorry for themselves.
00:04:46They're going to push themselves harder.
00:04:47They're going to be there on time.
00:04:48They're going to put in the extra time.
00:04:50They're going to, learning to lose is a very important life lesson, I believe.
00:04:54You know, I remember back in 1996, I was trying to qualify for the Atlanta Olympics, and I kept trying, I kept trying, kept missing that time.
00:05:01I'm like, nah, I'm going to make Sydney.
00:05:03Four years, and it gave me that discipline, and now, the life lesson I've learned in terms of discipline and learning to lose, even though I might lose every, every week or two, I lose in some way, but you find ways to get that discipline to win again.
00:05:17And then you win is one of the greatest highs, when you win on, and whatever it is, and the discipline teaches you.
00:05:22So, I think, look at our heroes, and they're not always on top.
00:05:25Look at Messi.
00:05:26People said Messi was, you know, for the last few years, they said he wasn't doing so good, and the guy came back and won Copa in the World Cup, you know.
00:05:32So, don't ever count out, guys.
00:05:34These guys are disciplined, and throughout life, what it's going to teach you is how to lose, but more importantly, when you lose, how are you going to eventually keep winning?
00:05:42So, you know, Jay, you heard him, he spoke there about that, that key word, they're disciplined.
00:05:47And, you know, Olympians are one of those that, you know, in one of the episodes, we spoke about, you know, we coined a phrase on the show, being fashionably unimpressed.
00:05:58You know, where people, for example, Trinis have that mentality for the most part where, you know, say, for example, you make it to the Olympics, and we turn around and say, but they ain't going nowhere.
00:06:08They mean the time, or look, it's cut all the way through, and we forget to appreciate what it took to become, I mean, I see you wearing the ring on your finger, you know, the Olympic rings.
00:06:20And, as you said, in 1996 at Atlanta, and to stay in the game, and to continue to have that discipline, and that by nothing being guaranteed, because you could get injured, anything could happen, that commitment to get to Sydney, in itself, is a massive achievement.
00:06:40What is that drive, what is that why that keeps you, that keeps an Olympian, or keep people like yourself in that mentality to, you know, you hear that term bandied about all the time, a champion mindset.
00:06:54What is that like, you know, the ups and downs of that that people don't see?
00:06:58Well, for me, you know, number one, having a good team, and again, life lesson.
00:07:02You have teams, so when you're in an arena or in a pool, you're not by yourself, you have your coach, you have your physio, you have your teammates.
00:07:09So when you have a down day, your team picking you up, it's like in your job, if you're having a down day in the office, you have somebody to pick you up.
00:07:15If you're married, your wife picks you up, you know, you have teamwork, allow you to keep pushing, pushing that focus.
00:07:21And then, you have to have your goals.
00:07:23And for me, walking into that opening ceremony, I remember back in 98, the Canadian Olympic team asked me to represent Canada, and I said, no, I'm not going to add Canadian citizenship as well.
00:07:35I'm like, no, I can't go out there without waving a Canada flag, I'm not a Canadian.
00:07:38When I walked through the opening ceremonies in Sydney, 110,000 people, that high that I got was worth all the years of dedication, sacrificing, no partying, and it was the greatest high.
00:07:52Just representing your country and walking out and being like that, and more importantly, it made every sacrifice worth it, because you're representing 1.2 million people back then,
00:08:03you are representing your family, and it's something that will never leave you, you know, when you achieve your goals.
00:08:09And your goals don't have to be Olympics, yeah, your goals could be doing the best time, your goals could be making, whatever your goals are in sports, they are different goals.
00:08:16Mine was the highest level, which was the Olympics, but whatever it is, you know, whatever your goals, and however small, it's still something you should be proud of, and keep working towards it.
00:08:25But teamwork is so important. It's very difficult to do it on your own, you know. I've never really experienced people succeed on their own.
00:08:35You also have at least somebody, either their mom, their dad, their cousin, their teammate, their coach helping them.
00:08:39So that's another life lesson on how to communicate and relate to your teammates and your support system.
00:08:44One of his roommates, one of his roommates at the Olympics, and still to date, you have one of your best friends, George Rovell, I'm sure would have imparted a lot, I mean, because he is one of the most disciplined people, persons, I would know, in sport.
00:08:58Even though he's not, you know, competing these days, he still keeps himself in order.
00:09:05You know, it's important what you said, you know, by yourself, you'll get places, but you go further with others supporting you.
00:09:11And adding to what you mentioned about the lessons from a loss, I think sport would have teached me, and continues to teach me, to be classy, to have class, and to have dignity.
00:09:24A win is natural, a win is fun, it is one of the greatest feelings, as you rightfully said, it's a high.
00:09:29But it's in a loss where you see someone's true character.
00:09:33And for me, when I have lost in any capacity, whether it be a race, competitively, whether it be football, fact match even, when it's all done, before the bears and before the banter, I will always shake the opponent's hand.
00:09:48I would congratulate if a great goal was scored, I'll find the striker and say, well done.
00:09:54And, you know, I never come off the pitch angry, I was never one to pick up the wicket and take the ball and bat and go home.
00:10:03You know, there are people who operate.
00:10:04Or your football, yeah, you take your football, yeah.
00:10:06You mash up the whole game.
00:10:08And, you know, I actually applied that when I was part of the 2020 election campaign.
00:10:14I didn't get over the line.
00:10:15And yes, it was emotional, it was tough, you know, analyzing all the work I would have put in.
00:10:20But when I called my opponent at the time, Saddam Hussein, called him the night.
00:10:27And then I met with him probably about a week thereafter to shake his hand and just tell him congrats and to just hear his plans for the area.
00:10:34A lot of folks got upset with me.
00:10:36And looking back, I don't know if probably that was a reason for me being left in the cold.
00:10:41I don't know.
00:10:41I would never know and I don't really care to know, right?
00:10:44All I've known is that I've been able to find my foot in.
00:10:48I'm in a real good space and good place now.
00:10:50And I look back at that and especially that particular moment as a pivotal moment.
00:10:54And I hope coming into this silly season that if there are those going in for the first time and you have any experience in sport,
00:11:03apply the same kind of class and dignity if you don't get over the line.
00:11:07It can't be that you don't get over the line and, you know, you see somebody as an enemy and you're vexing.
00:11:13Sour grapes.
00:11:14Sour grapes.
00:11:14No, don't do me that because literally you put yourself up to serve.
00:11:18And to me, if you're serving, you're serving for all.
00:11:20And if somebody is able to clip you, to look at them in that kind of way.
00:11:24And I have no regrets in that particular moment.
00:11:27Not necessarily, you know.
00:11:28You see what you're saying, you're out there to serve.
00:11:31That is not the mentality, everybody.
00:11:33Everybody, I think, does get into sport for their own reasons.
00:11:36And even, I'm not saying you, but sometimes I've encountered this in doing work, especially with mental toughness and sports psychology with teams,
00:11:45is that sometimes the coaches want players to play for their reason.
00:11:50And then sometimes even mentioned the population and the people.
00:11:54The people want you to play sport and act a certain way, maybe how they think you should.
00:12:00Now, I'm not saying that you should do things contrary, but who you are as a person, right, it doesn't necessarily always translate into having a good character.
00:12:11It doesn't always translate into being a good loser.
00:12:15Sometimes you might even be a good winner.
00:12:17You know, some people, they see the personality come up when the win and the bravado and how they probably could feel it better than everybody.
00:12:23So, I hear what you're saying and I agree that that's what you maybe should do, but that's not always who somebody is.
00:12:29But to me, I think it's better to lose fair and square than to win by cutting corners.
00:12:36And nothing that are cutting corners.
00:12:38Not suggesting anybody cut corners in my particular experience, but my greatest lesson from sport was the ability to show class in a loss.
00:12:46I mean, I look at U.S. President Donald Trump and the fact that when he lost in 2020, he was not there to usher Joe Biden into the White House.
00:12:59He won this time around.
00:13:00Joe Biden was there to usher him in.
00:13:02And I'm saying to myself, look at that, have I?
00:13:05And I'm not getting into the U.S. politics.
00:13:06You know, what they do doesn't, but I can say it doesn't.
00:13:08It applies to all of us.
00:13:09But I look at it from all angles and I told myself probably Donald Trump, I don't know if he played sport.
00:13:14I think he was good at baseball.
00:13:15From what I understand, I heard he was a good baseballer at some point.
00:13:18But I'm saying, in a loss, when you see people moving classy, I feel somewhere deep inside they would have had some kind of experience in sport.
00:13:28And they've learned how to treat and to deal with a loss.
00:13:31Because think about it, and you could probably relate to this.
00:13:34What about the athlete as the finish loser finals or a major game?
00:13:39Media put a microphone in the face.
00:13:41Remember, you're going through so many emotions.
00:13:42And that to me, you want to say, I mean, you deal with people's mindset.
00:13:47That takes real discipline and strength to be able to even speak after such an emotional rollercoaster.
00:13:55If the fans feel in that way, and they're going to harass us.
00:13:57You can imagine the man or the woman who are on the field, and now they have to talk to media.
00:14:01Oh my goodness.
00:14:02I mean, look at Simone Biles in Tokyo.
00:14:05You know, she had a mental, almost, I would say, a breakdown.
00:14:09She had to lead the Olympics early.
00:14:10Everybody counted her out, and she was, quote unquote, a big loser four years ago.
00:14:16And look at her now.
00:14:17She's back on top.
00:14:18You know, the kind of mental strength and fortitude and discipline they must have taken for her without public pressure.
00:14:24And so now that she's gone through it as an athlete, nothing in life will faze her, you know.
00:14:28And me, nothing in life will faze me.
00:14:31Because I know that I, like right now, you know, if I already banked millions of dollars, yes, it's a stressful situation.
00:14:38But because I've had those struggles in sports, I know I'll find a way once you're disciplined.
00:14:44I used to have my Olympic qualifying time on the ceiling of my dormitory.
00:14:48And every morning I wake up, I see the qualifying time.
00:14:51And for four years, I looked at that.
00:14:52So I think sportsmen, at any level, once you're disciplined, it's going to carry you through life.
00:14:59And you're going to, unfortunately, in Trinard and the Caribbean, mainly Trinard, we have a real bandwagon society.
00:15:05It's very unfortunate.
00:15:06They're quick to push down our guys and so on.
00:15:10But I think we're trying to change our mentality.
00:15:12And I'm happy to see guys like Lara back on the campaign doing his, you know, trying to do his mentorship with his book.
00:15:19I'm happy to see that, you know, Shaka comes on once in a while and this is.
00:15:22So I'm happy that these guys are trying to give back.
00:15:24We need more of that so the young people could see what they have to strive towards, you know.
00:15:30So, you know, one thing we're seeing here, there are many life lessons to learn from not just watching sport, but partaking in sport and what sport gives you.
00:15:41You know, like we said, that mental fortitude, that stick-with-it-ness, the discipline, and there's so many other areas that we can talk about.
00:15:50And Jay, you said something a short while ago about what sport gives you to take into other areas of your life in terms of how you're graceful in defeat.
00:16:01Yes.
00:16:02And I want to share a story because, you know, part of what we talk about on manhood is it's a cathartic experience.
00:16:08And it's also you introspect and you recognize not just how you may be successful, but how you're also, how you may show up in a negative light.
00:16:19And I want to share a story that is both yin and yang, in that case, alpha and omega, where I showed up in success and where I also show up in the negative with a defeat.
00:16:31Because remember, we also go into anything to win.
00:16:35And sometimes we're not always graceful in defeat.
00:16:38So, but we'll talk a lot more when we come back from the break.
00:16:49So, manhood, we're dealing with sports and life lessons.
00:16:53And, you know, inside that first segment, we had a chance to express the lessons and, you know, the power of a loss and being able to take a loss, learn the lessons from it, and take it with dignity and class.
00:17:07I want to kind of focus, or at least if I have questions for the team about the win and the bravado in a win and the beating your chest and you're turning around and shooting your jersey and the, you know, the whining by the corner flag.
00:17:21I mean, is that, is that overstated?
00:17:24Is that overdone?
00:17:24Is that a cool or, I mean, I can't say acceptable.
00:17:28I mean, acceptable is really, you know, subjective.
00:17:31But what is that about?
00:17:32It depends what you're reasoning.
00:17:34I want to explain, but just to, one of the memories, as Jay said that, right?
00:17:39We had a, we had a, a, a tradition that when, when they had the big Arsenal Man U games, we would meet up and, and take in a game.
00:17:47I never forget this individual here in Trotters.
00:17:51Arsenal put, Arsenal put someone Manchester United and this man run around the whole of Trotters, almost went on top of the bar tables and things like that.
00:17:59So the, so the, so it really is a.
00:18:01It's a release, you know.
00:18:02It's a release.
00:18:03It's a release.
00:18:03It's a release because neither of us own the football team, neither of us had anything to do.
00:18:07We say about the talk, you give me too, huh?
00:18:09You want to say, it's talk.
00:18:10It's talk.
00:18:10And now I get, I get, I get the upper hand.
00:18:13So it's like, yes.
00:18:13It's a wine on my face now, you know, that kind of thing.
00:18:16Until the next one, you know, until, until the next time you might get the upper hand.
00:18:19So, so then that was in with the, with the reasoning now.
00:18:21Now, one, you could go first, the reason behind getting into the sport.
00:18:27Because I'll, I'll give some examples.
00:18:29Because dealing with sports teams, it has sometimes people get into the sport to support the country, to serve the country.
00:18:36But then how some people get into the sport to get girls?
00:18:39How some people get into the sport to be on TV?
00:18:42How some people get into the sport to make some money?
00:18:45How people get into the sport, well, thinking that this is the only avenue that they have to get a better life?
00:18:50So it depends.
00:18:52And since some people get any sport to show off on others, some people get, if you understand, I give them different reasons.
00:18:58So when you see somebody behave and react when they win, it's because of the reason.
00:19:03How they react when they lose is also because of the reason.
00:19:07And sometimes, I wouldn't say sometimes now, because we don't know the reason.
00:19:11We see sportsmen and sportswomen, and we also project our own thoughts and our own mentality on them.
00:19:19So when they act in accordance to who they are, not who we think they are, sometimes we have a problem with it.
00:19:26Even expectations.
00:19:27Sometimes we put so much belief in an athlete.
00:19:29So much trust that when they're down, we also feel down.
00:19:33And you have to remember, sometimes we think that these athletes are superhumans.
00:19:38You think they're almost like machines, and they're expected to perform day in, day out.
00:19:42I remember when I was in a very good swimmer, I was like, Trinard champion.
00:19:46I thought I was hot stuff, you know, I'm champion of Trinard.
00:19:50And I went to meet in Atlanta, and there was the Olympic gold medalist.
00:19:54And I remember meeting him in the bathroom.
00:19:55He was in one urinal, I'm in the next urinal.
00:19:57And I'm like, this man is an Olympic gold medalist.
00:20:00I got called Ian Torp.
00:20:01He might know by Torpedo.
00:20:02And he was a normal person.
00:20:04He's like, hey, how are you doing?
00:20:05Where are you from?
00:20:05And when I realized that this guy is human, but when you see these guys on TV, and you
00:20:10see these guys on newspapers and magazines, you don't appreciate that they're human,
00:20:16that they have human feelings, you know.
00:20:18And you just, the kind of pressure that they're under, day in, day out to perform.
00:20:22Cameras on them at all times.
00:20:24And sport at different levels.
00:20:27It's so competitive, you know.
00:20:28You're like a finely tuned race car, you know.
00:20:30So it's, we have to be mindful.
00:20:32These are human beings that you're dealing with, and that you have to appreciate the
00:20:36length of sacrifice that they go to to perform at that top level, for whatever reason it
00:20:42is, like Johansson was saying.
00:20:43How do you feel about the mental games that are played in sports as it applies itself in
00:20:48actual real life, in the workplace, in the competitive, let's say, corporate world or
00:20:53business world?
00:20:55Because to me, sports is plenty mental games.
00:20:58Right.
00:20:58And you see people, you know, like people using sometimes excuses if you don't go over the
00:21:06line.
00:21:07Or we have known, I mean, I don't know if all you do it, but you're running a hundred meter
00:21:10race in your daddy's race in school.
00:21:13And you figure you're the best daddy.
00:21:15And you take off and some other person, daddy, go on past.
00:21:18And all of a sudden, you pull up.
00:21:20You have no cramp, you know.
00:21:20No hamstring bust.
00:21:21Yeah.
00:21:22But your car goes, it's just a mental game.
00:21:25Because your car shows to everybody else that now, but it's all Alex I get in front of
00:21:28these people.
00:21:29Yeah.
00:21:29So, lots of mental games play off and people sometimes say words or try to act a certain
00:21:34way to throw you off.
00:21:35The refusal of a handshake.
00:21:37Somebody snubbing you.
00:21:39Coming in a room loud.
00:21:41That's the biggest man in the room.
00:21:42Yeah.
00:21:42Yeah.
00:21:42Yeah.
00:21:43It's amazing how sports can sometimes reflect life in that aspect.
00:21:47So, when you say that, like, for example, if we take, say, a Manchester United and Arsenal
00:21:52or anybody that you support.
00:21:54But let's take, for example, the Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi constant argument, you
00:22:00know, where they call somebody a Penalo fan or a Messi fan.
00:22:04What it comes down to is you've decided to support this person.
00:22:09So, the pressure on, say, even when you spoke about Ian Thorpe, that you're going out there
00:22:12and it's not a matter of just you having to compete for yourself.
00:22:16You are now having the persons who are your fans who are supporting you, who are believing
00:22:20you, who have spoken on behalf, who are taking you on, even in their conversations, they're
00:22:26like, I have made a decision to back this person.
00:22:29And because you've made that decision, nobody wants to be wrong.
00:22:33So, you know, you always give the arguments to why that person's better.
00:22:38So, when they lose, it's an insult.
00:22:41It's like you're not putting you in a space that you now have to defend, okay, well, my
00:22:46decision was wrong.
00:22:48It's not necessarily wrong, but it's an ego.
00:22:50It's an ego thing in a big way.
00:22:52And I'll say that, as I said about ego, I was telling you before the break about something
00:22:57when you mentioned about being graceful in defeat and how it has shown you many lessons.
00:23:02And I could say that I, unfortunately, have heard in that, in many respects, I have not
00:23:09been graceful in defeat as a competitor, where I go in, you know, you go into anything to
00:23:16win it, right?
00:23:17You're not going in there to partake, you know, this participation medal, I am not about.
00:23:21If you are doing a marathon, then the accomplishment is in completing a marathon.
00:23:26But if you're playing a football match, even though it could be a sweat, you want to win.
00:23:32If I'm playing pickleball, you want to win.
00:23:34And there are times that during the match, I might be like, ha boy, and the same, showing
00:23:42my number.
00:23:43The mental games.
00:23:44Mental games.
00:23:45But also in the defeat, even though it meant, because I went in there to win it, even though
00:23:50I, you know, like I said, you go in with that mindset.
00:23:53And when you don't, it's almost like sour grapes at that point.
00:23:57Like, whether you can shake the person's hand, but in your mind, you're telling yourself,
00:24:02yeah, it was just a game.
00:24:04It's just a, you know what I mean?
00:24:05That didn't, that didn't mean much to me.
00:24:06But you're lying.
00:24:07Right?
00:24:08I think it's good to hear, you know, talk about the athletes, but you touched on a point
00:24:11earlier when you, and Trotters and supporting, the impact that sports have on lifestyle.
00:24:16For non-athletes, I think that's something we should talk about a little bit as well too,
00:24:20because yes, how it impacts you as a former athlete, but there are a lot of people who
00:24:23never played sports.
00:24:24But, let me give you some examples.
00:24:27CPL has the biggest party now in Trinard, in the stands, and most people in the stands
00:24:31aren't sportsmen, but they're having a great time and loving life because of sport.
00:24:35When you think about Jamaica, do you know about the Prime Minister's name or Bolt?
00:24:39And let me ask you another question.
00:24:40What is one of Trinard's best days ever in history to be a Trinardian?
00:24:44When we qualify.
00:24:452005.
00:24:46Not during our election, or we build a big building.
00:24:49The 16th of November.
00:24:50Or we fix a drain, or we had Carnival Tuesday.
00:24:55That was a great day.
00:24:56It was, exactly.
00:24:57That was a great day.
00:24:57That's what sport did.
00:24:59Vagrant linemen with rich men.
00:25:01I mean, black, white.
00:25:02I mean, so sport, I think, on people's lifestyle.
00:25:05The whole country, I'm sure there was no murders that day.
00:25:08You know?
00:25:09I think, so you have to realize the impact that sport has on lifestyle, and how the whole
00:25:14country has came together.
00:25:15Because the sport athletes, yes, we've been talking about that, but the non-athletes,
00:25:19which is the majority of the world are non-athletes in reality.
00:25:22I'll give you a reasoning for that.
00:25:25And that's something I was thinking about a little while back when Keyshawn had win,
00:25:31right?
00:25:32What a great day.
00:25:33The medal, and the way people reacted.
00:25:36What that did for the country?
00:25:38All of us, I think consciously and unconsciously, we want to achieve self-actualization.
00:25:46Right?
00:25:46Self-actualization, let's just say in simple terms, is to be our full potential.
00:25:51We want to be full potential.
00:25:53Now, different people have different motivations, different drives, different levels of discipline.
00:25:58But if you could see it even outside yourself, right?
00:26:03You could see somebody achieving that level of self-actualization, you'll go behind it.
00:26:08Whether that person is from the same country as you, whether it's from a football team,
00:26:12a cricket team, whatever it is.
00:26:14So now, and sometimes that's where it becomes, I would say, a little dangerous first at times
00:26:19because you put in now part of your personality and your persona on this person.
00:26:26And most times the person don't know anything about it.
00:26:29And it's out of your control.
00:26:30And it's out of your control.
00:26:31Worse yet, that's a good point.
00:26:34It's out of your control.
00:26:36So one, it brings people together because everybody, I think, again, consciously and unconsciously,
00:26:41want to be their best.
00:26:42So when they see people doing their best, it brings joy to them, right?
00:26:48I'll tell you this, I have learned through sport also, as much as I'm very passionate about sport
00:26:53and passionate even more so about life, I've learned also too that there are moments
00:26:58you have to not take it as serious.
00:27:01And not take it as serious in the sense that, yes, you're going in there with that winning mentality.
00:27:07But I recall going back to my beloved Arsenal.
00:27:09When Arsenal lost the Champions League to Barcelona in 2005 and we were down to 10 men
00:27:14and we lost with Messi and them.
00:27:15That was Messi's first Champions League.
00:27:18I couldn't go to work the next day, you know.
00:27:19I remember I was so depressed.
00:27:22And you were a fan.
00:27:23Imagine that.
00:27:23All the way in train ad.
00:27:24All the way in train ad.
00:27:25And that was the day I told myself, Jason.
00:27:27But now you get accustomed.
00:27:28Well, you see, you know.
00:27:30Hey, hey, hey.
00:27:30Careful, eh.
00:27:32But I just tell myself.
00:27:33The impact of sport on your life.
00:27:34I say I can't gain so deep again.
00:27:36So even now, when Arsenal lose important games like how we would have, we just wanted
00:27:40to get over the line last year to Clipman City.
00:27:43I was disappointed, but I wasn't disappointed on that level where I couldn't show up to
00:27:47Wiggy next day.
00:27:48I guess it was a mixture, as you said, ego.
00:27:51And also just mental gymnastics, boy.
00:27:53Just, I couldn't handle the talk.
00:27:55So you're a fan and feeling that way.
00:27:57Imagine how the Arsenal players felt.
00:27:59Yeah.
00:27:59Imagine that.
00:28:00But plenty of a twist talk and we set ourselves up because we, you know, banter so much
00:28:04and you puff up your chest.
00:28:06And again, out of your control.
00:28:08Out of your control.
00:28:08Out of your control.
00:28:09I know how you feel.
00:28:09I like that mental gymnastics.
00:28:11Yeah, I know.
00:28:11I know how you feel.
00:28:12I can't, I can't, I can't, I'm watching a million miles away.
00:28:15But you end up feeling so hurt.
00:28:17Sport is really put you in a kind of jambal sometimes.
00:28:19Yeah.
00:28:19Yeah.
00:28:20But it's such a beautiful, beautiful thing.
00:28:22I remember whenever, so I was in London Olympics supporting George when he was there
00:28:25and he came out with his little hood on and his little shades and he's looking
00:28:29real tough.
00:28:30And London was just alive.
00:28:31The whole city was 24 hours a day.
00:28:34All the bars, restaurants open.
00:28:35You're kind of the economy.
00:28:37So sports are so, and so you're helping people's jobs.
00:28:39I mean, what the power of sports, I would always say invest in sport over so many
00:28:45other elements.
00:28:46Sports, education, health.
00:28:48I think those are key pillars that we need to look on and realize how it impacts
00:28:52people's lifestyles.
00:28:53You have so much lessons you can learn, you know, and the society can learn from
00:28:56that by extension.
00:28:58I'm even looking at, you know, everybody who's into football would remember clubs
00:29:02like Joe Public, San Juan Jablote.
00:29:04Yeah, it was big.
00:29:05Or Central FC.
00:29:07And I look at the work that Sauer or San Juan Jablote is doing now.
00:29:11It's bigger than just the football of yesteryear.
00:29:15You know, what they're doing and the impact for their community.
00:29:18Yes.
00:29:18And the youth.
00:29:19And the youth is huge.
00:29:20I mean, two of their players being called up by Dwight York for the upcoming games.
00:29:25It shows that the resilience is there, the discipline is there, the back office
00:29:30staff, which is, you know, another huge thing, as you mentioned, about in those
00:29:34days going, you know, the days that you're feeling down, getting through those
00:29:38four years, the team that's behind you because, you know, it takes a village to
00:29:42raise a child.
00:29:42Have you seen the Man City support team when they won the Premier League?
00:29:45About 50 of them come on the field.
00:29:46Yeah, we don't talk about Man City.
00:29:48But again, as you said, I could appreciate good football.
00:29:58When you watch, maybe not Manchester City this season, but Manchester City a couple seasons
00:30:04back, you know, they play good football.
00:30:06So even though I'm a Manchester United supporter, I can look at that and say, hey, that's some
00:30:10nice football, boy.
00:30:11When you say to men who almost get to blows, one people, one people going, two things I
00:30:17realize people passionate about, you see politics, but even more so sports, sports
00:30:22argument that LeBron better than Michael Jordan, that Messi versus Ronaldo argument
00:30:28that Maradona versus Pili.
00:30:31And they're all, they're known as geezers, hooligans.
00:30:34They go there with their shanks and things like that.
00:30:37They go there to fight.
00:30:38Argentina versus Brazil.
00:30:40They hate each other.
00:30:41They hate each other.
00:30:41People just get real deep in them things, you know.
00:30:43Well, it has a theme, right?
00:30:45It's two things.
00:30:47One, if it's city against city.
00:30:50So like how people in Madrid, people live in Madrid and live in Barcelona, right?
00:30:54They have their history, right?
00:30:57So that's something different versus if we in Trinidad and we supporting them from afar.
00:31:04And I remember years ago in university taking a sociology class.
00:31:08There was a theory, the monotheistic, I can't remember the exact name, but because generally
00:31:16people worship one God, right?
00:31:18And people look for a savior, right?
00:31:21In one area of their life.
00:31:23They end up transposing it to sport.
00:31:26So when you look at somebody who doing, quote unquote, better than you or putting the effort that you wish you had, right?
00:31:34You now worship them, right?
00:31:37Because sometimes it comes to that.
00:31:38So when you're worshiping somebody, and again, I'm using this more people from afar versus the actual people who live in the cities.
00:31:46So when you're worshiping somebody, right?
00:31:49Then think about it like a disciple or a devotee.
00:31:52So if you're God, quote unquote, didn't do as good as you want, but you're still worshiping.
00:31:58Because when you worship somebody, the card will no wrong, right?
00:32:02So then when somebody else, so now it's like religious people arguing, my religion better than yours, and you'll never win that argument.
00:32:11Yeah, it's true.
00:32:12It's true.
00:32:12And I guess that in itself, you know, could be applied to life because smart people know it's to stay away from those kind of arguments.
00:32:19But from the time it started to get personal, you know, don't get me wrong, me and, I mean, we will have our banter, but it never got to a place of disrespect.
00:32:25It never went to a place of like a real dig.
00:32:28You know, it was just the football and the, but we're cool because at the end of the day, as Robbie says, the football is what wins.
00:32:35But I've seen people in bars, you know, Robert, nearly to blows.
00:32:39And I'm saying, enjoy that.
00:32:41I say half of you all never even, you never went to Old Trafford.
00:32:44You never went to Stanford Bridge.
00:32:45You never went to the ban of bar in Spain.
00:32:47If you worship and if you, if sometimes you, in yourself, you don't have that, right?
00:32:54And I'm saying that we could always explain.
00:32:56But if you don't have that and you're looking for it in somebody else, then it will be that serious.
00:33:00But I know, I know we ought to go to the break, but I just want to say that it is not just that you're looking at the particular side or person as a God.
00:33:10Yes, you may have that, that feeling towards them and that passion towards them.
00:33:14But it's also, I think that, that, that ego, that egotistical attachment, like this is who I am backing.
00:33:20So then this has to be the best.
00:33:23And if you don't agree with that, then we have a problem.
00:33:26And I think it's, it's, it's, the attack is more on how dare you than, than the actual football team in itself.
00:33:35Yeah, I guess when we come back from the break too, I would love to see that passion for, for stuff local too.
00:33:40The way, the way some men.
00:33:41Agreed.
00:33:41You, you gained it.
00:33:42Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:33:43When we come back, I guess when we come back.
00:33:44Agreed.
00:33:45Welcome back to Manhood, Life Lessons in Sport.
00:33:57So we were talking about, you know, the impact of all these global heroes and learning from them and so on.
00:34:02And we want to touch base on our local heroes a little bit and our local sporting environment.
00:34:06But before we jump to that, I was reading the papers yesterday and seeing an interview.
00:34:10There was a big trade in the NBA.
00:34:11Hey, a big, I think a guy from Dallas, Luca went to Lakers and then Antonio Davis went to Dallas.
00:34:18And they interviewed this guy.
00:34:20He was at Dallas for seven years.
00:34:22He was led the team to the NBA finals.
00:34:24And he woke up in the morning to find out he was traded.
00:34:27And just imagine how that guy, and he was so professional in his response.
00:34:31He said, well, that's what it is.
00:34:33I got to go and support, you know, the Lakers now.
00:34:36And I'm going to learn from LeBron.
00:34:37This guy is 25 years old.
00:34:38And he's like, I'm going to learn from LeBron and his professional approach for a 25-year-old who, his whole life now has to change and go to a whole new city.
00:34:47I learned, I mean, I've been around for a while.
00:34:49And I've learned so much from how he handled that whole situation.
00:34:53I think some of our local politicians and local people could learn how to handle things professionally.
00:34:58I think it would go a long, long way how to deal with things professionally.
00:35:02And I won't say not emotionally, because they get emotional, but professionally, you know, in a disciplined way.
00:35:08So, Sebi, you know, you and I always have our own banter.
00:35:11Because for those who don't know, you know, Sebastian and I, we swam for the same club for years, Blue Dolphins.
00:35:18And for me, when I, when I, Sebastian was one of the best swimmers when you enter that club.
00:35:27So, you know, you look at people that you have to compete with.
00:35:29It was Sebastian, it was his brother Luke, and another guy called Michael.
00:35:32And of course, when you progress in your lanes and you now get better and better, of course, you want to take people out.
00:35:38It's like, okay, well, I need to be the alpha in the pool.
00:35:40And my recollection, whether it's right or wrong, I would remember some of our international or regional meets.
00:35:46I would say, Sebi, I remember cutting your ass, you know, and then he would chuckle and say, nah, that didn't happen.
00:35:53And it's, it's, it's, it's that, it's always the piquing in wanting to, to, to be the best or be better and have those particular conversations in those environments.
00:36:04And I'm saying that the Trinnies, not all Trinnies, I want to make sure and say that, but we have, we have that piquing, as we said, you and I don't, don't take it to that level.
00:36:17Sebastian and I don't take it to that level, but people do.
00:36:20And to the athletes, and I always remember when Kishon Walcott got bronze and we put out there that Kishon failed to win goal.
00:36:30It hurt me because I knew the kind of work Kishon Walcott put in.
00:36:34I, you know, I was there with along, you know, some of his journey.
00:36:37I, I, I cataloged it, you know, I had good conversation with him and I, and, and to, and to hear that when someone puts in that and what they've achieved and that's the way it was reviewed, you know, hurt, hurt not just a fan, but, you know, Kishon's a friend.
00:36:51And the athlete then, in turn, could then look around and say, well, I do it by your thing.
00:36:59I will continue to do my thing.
00:37:00And to safeguard their space and their mental, they probably then have to say, listen, I, I had a lock all your naysayers and negative people out.
00:37:09And therefore, and therefore then we look at them and say they're cocky, but really and truly you've created that.
00:37:15But in a way it applies to life.
00:37:16Again, that is against sport reflecting and being a mirror of life.
00:37:20Ultimately, in the real world, you're as good as your last performance.
00:37:24Yeah.
00:37:24So ultimately, yes, you got the goal, you won this particular game, but if Bravo gives us three rickets in one game and then in the next game in his last over, he's expensive.
00:37:35A man hit 30 off a Bravo, six, six and four.
00:37:39People, the, the, the, the, and I've seen people, you know, waste down Bravo.
00:37:43Imagine a man like Bravo.
00:37:44Yeah.
00:37:44I'm saying, my God, look how they treat Lara.
00:37:47Look how they treat Lara.
00:37:48So are we shocked then when they behave, when they, when, when they, when they perceive behavior is one of shunning or they feel it too good.
00:37:56It's because.
00:37:57Now, well, that's why this kind of shows are important, number one, for education.
00:38:01When George retired after five Olympics, the headline was not George Bovell retires, but George gives up.
00:38:07I mean, this is ridiculous.
00:38:08George gives up.
00:38:09And so instead of the population understanding what he went through, that's why we need the government and the private sector, bring these heroes in, let them go to schools, let them tell their story.
00:38:19So you're not just reading what's in the media.
00:38:20And share with us, because again, you want to say being a man who deals with, with, with mental capacity could elaborate.
00:38:26The reality is the toughness that, that these athletes show to me, that sometimes is the toughness required for this thing called life.
00:38:34Life is beautiful and all, but there are moments where you have problems in relationship with finances in your workplace and you have to stay strong and tough.
00:38:42And you can learn from these guys.
00:38:43You can learn from these people.
00:38:44Because you see, you see, yes, yes, you can.
00:38:47So, so Sebastian, I definitely agree with you with them, sharing the story.
00:38:51And that's why, um, when Atlantic, Atlantic used to have these ambassadors, which used to grow up to school.
00:38:57I find that was a real good idea.
00:38:59But what you were saying before, Robert, when actually the first segment, when you say, um, sometimes the population just forget how much work goes into it.
00:39:09They can't forget because they don't know.
00:39:10They don't know.
00:39:11People don't know how much work there's really going, going to an athlete.
00:39:15So they can't apply it because when somebody look at a quote unquote icon, right?
00:39:21If you, as a sportsman, you're supposed to do that.
00:39:25And they're not really looking at you as human, right?
00:39:27And I'm not arguing whether that's right or wrong for now, right?
00:39:31If you play in football, you had to win.
00:39:33If you, if you, if you're pelting the javelin, you had to get a goal.
00:39:36If you're going to the Olympics, you had to get a goal because I see you as that.
00:39:39Now, of course, they are human.
00:39:42Sportsmen are human.
00:39:43And sometimes even fans forget that and expect superhuman of them.
00:39:49So I agree with you with telling that story.
00:39:51That's a real important thing because now it humanizes.
00:39:56And I wouldn't say, I mean, we could get disappointed, but I currently get vexed at somebody who, if they pedestalize a sportsman and a sportsman, quote unquote, let them down.
00:40:07And I say let them down because it's possible not performing for them, but because they extrapolate and they project so much of themselves on the person, healthily or unhealthily, then they would be angry at the person.
00:40:22And I could understand it.
00:40:23I'm not condoning it necessarily, but I could understand where that, where our fan would come from.
00:40:27What we're doing here is great.
00:40:29I mean, Larry didn't get great overnight, you know, but who knows about the years in Harvard's and the Nets and playing late in Fatima afterwards about, if those stories were told,
00:40:39the man who tried to start a car rental business in Tobago, who have a one car and he tried, he might say, oh God, it's a year and I ain't making no money.
00:40:45But if these guys see that their heroes went through years of discipline and sacrifice and ups and failures and down before they got to that point, it would have so much people because they can't discount.
00:40:57I mean, yes, they come up sometimes and make money right away, but it takes years of discipline and sacrifice.
00:41:01And I say you're going to take money.
00:41:02Well, they talk about, as you said that about this, it takes sacrifice to get there and you're not even in short success.
00:41:11You know, it's the grind, it's the journey rather than the destination because look at Michael Jordan.
00:41:17I think it's seven seasons before he won his first championship.
00:41:20And people sometimes compare that Magic Johnson won it in his rookie year, but it works for some and some are fortunate than the other.
00:41:28But who are we really talking about as a great now in terms of basketball?
00:41:32It's in Michael Jordan and failures and is part of that resilience that we build.
00:41:40That's him, Jordan, you're talking about.
00:41:42When Pistons had roughed them up, remember Pistons was the bad boy squad.
00:41:46Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:41:47What Mike did that summer, he went in the gym.
00:41:51He said a ball cup.
00:41:52And Mike, because he get rough up, because man elbow him and push him off.
00:41:55And I know a big basketball man, but I look at Michael Jordan's story and I said, wow, you know, he, you know, when you have that talent and you have the work ethic, boy, world class.
00:42:05And he took a risk too.
00:42:06World class.
00:42:06When Converse and Alidas wanted to sign him and they were the big brands and give him half a million dollars in 84, 85.
00:42:13He turned that down and signed for like 200,000 or half the amount.
00:42:17But it was the clause about him getting a cut in the shares.
00:42:20Look at how risk he took.
00:42:21So, me as a businessman, when I watched that series on Netflix, I learned from those things.
00:42:26Let me take a risk, calculated risk.
00:42:29And yeah, you might fail.
00:42:30That's like the guy from Walt Disney.
00:42:31But you will win once you keep at it.
00:42:34And there's a golden rule in life.
00:42:36If there's talent, everybody, I think, regardless, will have some kind of ability, something you're good at.
00:42:41You put in hours, you apply yourself, you practice that particular craft.
00:42:46I think it could only be success, you know.
00:42:49But even if you don't have talent full-time, like look at the English Premier League.
00:42:53They have what?
00:42:53Maybe about, I would say, 50% of the players, roughly, aren't super talented.
00:42:58They've just been in the academies from young.
00:43:00They're disciplined.
00:43:01They know how to trap.
00:43:02They know how to pass.
00:43:03They fit.
00:43:04Good at the basics.
00:43:04They have the good at the basics.
00:43:05And they play in Premier League.
00:43:07A man like Dworka, one of our greatest talents ever, you know, by having certain, you know, discipline challenges and whatnot.
00:43:14I mean, he could have been the greatest footballer too, so discipline is really, it's so important.
00:43:20That's a bit of a, that's a big statement, especially when you have people like Ricardo Aliong and Russell Latipi and these, these, these players out there.
00:43:26But I get, I get what you're saying.
00:43:28Talent won't take you all the way.
00:43:29Because I remember you sent me a video to Sabi in his, in his, in his, you know, he's still trying to hold on to this Olympian thing.
00:43:37He, he, he, he did a race with Dylan Carter the other day and he sent me a video and he said, you feel you could make out who's who?
00:43:43And I tell myself, from, you realize that even Sebastian, who keeps himself fit and is a former Olympian, well, you're not a rare form, you're always an Olympian.
00:43:52And his talent, you could just tell from the time Dylan Carter dove, from the time he pushes off, I mean, you're like, you're ahead of the game.
00:44:01And you look, just to say that, you know, I had that series called On The Line, where you would, you know, I would go with the, the, you know, our, our sports and greats to show what an average person up against them is to really give you an insight.
00:44:17And I remember, I mean, I was in pretty good shape when I did this race with, um, Kelly, Kelly-Ann, Batiste and, and, and Michelle Iyahi.
00:44:24And from, well, let me tell you, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle probably woke off the block.
00:44:31Right?
00:44:31And I full pelt.
00:44:33I told her, like I said, I was in, I was in decent condition.
00:44:36So, like I said, as an average.
00:44:37And you realize she practically woke up and was miles ahead.
00:44:40Yeah, yes.
00:44:40And, and so when you see, when you see them competed and they make, they make the Olympics, right?
00:44:46And the, and the heats and into the semis and we just want to write them off.
00:44:50You're like, oh my God.
00:44:52I want to, I want to, I want to, you don't understand.
00:44:54I want to take it back to what you said about discipline.
00:44:55We don't understand.
00:44:56Yeah.
00:44:57How?
00:44:58Education.
00:44:58These shows are so important.
00:45:00How does one have discipline in our culture where discipline is in short supply?
00:45:04Because remember, our watchwords, our watchwords are discipline, tolerance, and production, right?
00:45:08We have tolerance.
00:45:09I think plenty.
00:45:10Too much.
00:45:10We are a producing country.
00:45:12We produce a lot.
00:45:14I think discipline is where we have the challenge in Trinidad, you know.
00:45:16The majority of our Olympic team is abroad.
00:45:19When we were, when we were greatest in our, in our football, majority of our players were
00:45:23playing abroad.
00:45:24Yeah.
00:45:24You know, it's, unfortunately, I don't, when we, we can't do it.
00:45:27I mean, J.U.
00:45:28Gordon trained locally, got with world champion.
00:45:30We can't do it with the right mindset, but it's, until we have the, it becomes.
00:45:35But they plateau.
00:45:35Yeah.
00:45:36By the time they go out there, they peak because they've had to do it with natural ability
00:45:40because the system wasn't enabling for that.
00:45:42And the human, when you have all that woman whining on the road in carnival, and you're
00:45:46out, there's that.
00:45:47It's difficult to be so disciplined, loud music pumping, I mean, hey, come and take
00:45:51a, eat a roti.
00:45:52It's so, it's so difficult.
00:45:54You can't eat a roti and then you go and compete.
00:45:56So you're blaming the fact that we are the hottest women in the world.
00:45:59No, they're saying that.
00:46:00So, if I had a choice, they are the hottest women in the world or be the best in sport,
00:46:05I feel like going with the.
00:46:07Barcelona Academy, Port of Spain, Carnival.
00:46:10So, is it, you know, a lot of times there's this call with it for crime, to curb crime
00:46:18and to have areas, as you said, discipline, tolerance, production, right?
00:46:23So, is it that we, instead of looking at maybe a system of having a military period, you know,
00:46:29where you have countries that do two years of military service, that we need to take more,
00:46:35have more focus on ensuring that it's almost a must.
00:46:39Not PE, not through physical education, must, that you must partake in some sport.
00:46:44Some kind of sport.
00:46:45Because I look at my son, for example, swimming at Marlins, you know that, eight years old
00:46:49and just doing phenomenal now.
00:46:50You know, he does, even, he has a soccer song to sing and he's singing it based on the amount,
00:46:54you know, all he's doing is swimming.
00:46:56Land training in the morning, swimming in the evening.
00:46:58And he, part of it, he ran the other day and he fell and he cut himself and I got about three or four,
00:47:05pardon the phrase, white man, right?
00:47:08And the coach picked him up and he said he was crying inside.
00:47:12And he said the coach picked him up and threw him back in the water and he had to continue to swim.
00:47:16And he came back home and told me that.
00:47:17And I told myself, that's all part of that discipline that, that, that I've said to him
00:47:22that even on the days, J, C, B, Johan say, that he goes, I don't feel like going swimming today.
00:47:28I said, you know when you could give up swimming?
00:47:30On the days that you want to go.
00:47:32On the days that you feel like it and you know your friends are going to be there.
00:47:36That, if you really wanted to stop, you could tell me on those days.
00:47:39It would be the changing culture.
00:47:40Central Park has runners, 12 months of the year, wintertime men running.
00:47:44Lady Chancellor, November to February, pack out.
00:47:48Carnival time.
00:47:50Carnival is a big part of us though.
00:47:52Yeah, but we need to change that and that's why we have to have these, our heroes.
00:47:56We have so many heroes that can just come out and they would love to be here,
00:48:00but they're professionals, they can't say, come down tomorrow and expect them to leave their busy schedule wherever they are, you know.
00:48:06You said, as we spoke about Carnival, right?
00:48:09Jay, you were telling us something at the break and even though it's not a life lesson of sport,
00:48:17it's a life lesson around Carnival and soccer, what the impact boy had on you,
00:48:23for those who don't know Marshall Montano and how a moment came full circle for you.
00:48:28Oh yeah, you know, introducing Marshall for years, you know, watching his work ethic.
00:48:32Marshall was, to me, still is like an athlete.
00:48:35His energy is one that people used to feel.
00:48:38And I still want to give him back that energy in terms of my introductions as a master's ceremonies on stage.
00:48:43So much so that in our Brass Festival, introducing him, I nearly faint.
00:48:47First I bowl out, Marshall and I started.
00:48:51I was like, I nearly collapsed on the stage, you know.
00:48:55And then in DC years after, with Palance alongside Blaze, Marshall introduced us and I remember how beautiful it felt.
00:49:02It felt like a real victory and we had our victory lap together on stage dancing and performing his songs.
00:49:08So that'll be a memory that will always stand out to me with Marshall, you know, the King Ahsoka.
00:49:14Yes, man.
00:49:15And you live with your idols, look at the guy from Barcelona, the young 16 or 17 year old, when he was a kid with Messi.
00:49:23Yeah, Yamal.
00:49:24And now they come full circle.
00:49:25And Messi hole him, what are the chances of that?
00:49:26Now they come full circle.
00:49:27Yeah, yeah.
00:49:28And that's the beauty of our awards.
00:49:29Messi with Ronaldinho did that with Messi.
00:49:31Yeah.
00:49:32You see it.
00:49:32He might have starched almost.
00:49:33Yeah.
00:49:34He might have starched.
00:49:34Yeah.
00:49:34So if we sort of go around, you know, in terms of, you know, the topic here today is life lessons in sport, but life, you know, even outside of sport, as you mentioned, Sabi, even if you did not compete, you weren't a sports person, the life lessons that are still around that, whether it be family, whether it be that you support, even if you're not into it in a big way.
00:50:01Let's face it, when World Cup comes around, you're watching it.
00:50:05When Olympics comes around, you're watching it.
00:50:07You can still have certain levels of admiration behind a Simone Biles or seeing Usain Bolt run.
00:50:13You have admiration for the supreme talent that is being seen and witnessed, and especially in our lifetime.
00:50:22And that does have its own ripple effects and changes to our life, you know.
00:50:26The underdog story and also boxing above your weight, you know, as Caribbean people.
00:50:32Like to me, when I saw Juju from St. Lucia on that stage, I mean, a St. Lucia and St. Lucia population is what?
00:50:39Probably 200,000.
00:50:40Yeah, yeah.
00:50:41100,000, if so much.
00:50:42Not a million.
00:50:42Imagine that.
00:50:43To have a girl from that population running against places with 300 million people and winning.
00:50:48Yeah.
00:50:49That is our victory.
00:50:50I feel it's like almost sports gives you a sense of hope and makes you realize that, you know what, boy, I could be recognized.
00:50:57With hard work, I too could rise to the top against the rest of the world.
00:51:01How proud are you when you go to London and a guy say, where are you from?
00:51:03Say, Trinidad.
00:51:04He say, oh, you know, Lara.
00:51:06Yeah.
00:51:06How proud do you feel?
00:51:08And what is for your ego and your mental?
00:51:10Yeah, yeah, I'm a Trini.
00:51:11You're wearing your tracksuit.
00:51:12Culture and sport is our biggest export, you know.
00:51:14Yeah, it is.
00:51:15That's what we're known for across the world.
00:51:17Yeah.
00:51:17We're known for the carnival.
00:51:18We're known for the likes of, well, Dwight York.
00:51:20So then why in our national budget is the miniature sport and miniature culture number 15?
00:51:24Well, that's a whole different conversation.
00:51:27Wait, that's enough time for that.
00:51:28As we say, the views and expressions.
00:51:32Next episode.
00:51:33It's so important.
00:51:34It's still a good question to ask.
00:51:36We're not getting into it, but it's a good question to ask because we have enough evidence.
00:51:41Of course.
00:51:42Locally, regionally, and internationally to prove the value of sport.
00:51:48I know what my son doing here, say, in two months.
00:51:50And I mean, I love the schooling teachers, but he's doing maths, creative writing, and I think it's grammar.
00:51:56If you're not good in creative writing, maths and grammar, you could end up passing for a school that's not that great or in some not great location.
00:52:05And that could affect your whole, you know, if you're a good cricketer or batsman or footballer.
00:52:10So why are we so focused on those three subjects at the 12 years old?
00:52:14Why aren't there academies for these young kids like in Cuba where they can go on and they pull that talent?
00:52:19Why do you have to be a parent spending money out of their private funds to go and pay for a private club and a private coach?
00:52:24That's what we need.
00:52:25We need academies.
00:52:26And that's what we need.
00:52:27I mean, imagine we're too focused on the wrong things.
00:52:31But academies for all.
00:52:32Because, I mean, just to touch on it.
00:52:34Cuba does it.
00:52:35Cuba does it.
00:52:35And I know we're going over time.
00:52:39But, again, you know, the discussions are always great.
00:52:41And one of the things I ask myself is, you know, like in England, they've limited it to about six or seven sports that the government funds and corporate, and they focus on those, one being cycling, you know, and athletics.
00:52:54And they say, okay, well, we're going to take these six or seven disciplines, and that's going to be our area of focus.
00:53:00So in Trinidad and Tobago, you know, yes, and I used to have this argument all the time with the sports, that's when I was the sports anchor, to say, yes, there's a qualifying time, and yes, everyone should have the opportunity to go and do what, once you make the qualifying time.
00:53:16If in athletics, the 100 meter is 10.04, and you make 10.03, then, of course, you qualify to go to the Olympics, well, providing you meet the standard in terms of you become one, two, three in the nationals, right?
00:53:29And you go.
00:53:31But my thing is, from a country perspective, I'm not just saying government, because whichever is the government from the day in terms of putting it into the system, but from a corporate and a citizen, because you can donate, there's GoFundMes and things like that.
00:53:44If we focused on four or five disciplines, so we look into, we know we've always had very good cyclists, we have good athletes, so track and field, maybe football, and, you know, maybe one or two others, and put that investment in there to grow the sport, not just for the persons who are in this Olympics and the next, but in terms of the culture, for the schools to get these academies, these feeder groups, as you're saying,
00:54:11just like what I was saying, San Juan Jablote is doing now, it may be something to look at.
00:54:17So, you know, yes, it's great when we have these pop-ups like gymnastics or somebody who's doing, not canoeing or kayaking.
00:54:26Dragon boat.
00:54:27Not dragon boat, it was, I forgot the, the, the, the kayak.
00:54:32You like, like, yeah, but the name is, I forget any name now, you're a big sportsman, you should bring it up, right?
00:54:38You know, these pop-ups, that's great, you know, you can get some, maybe some private funding at that point, but the focus on there, but as you said just now, Jay, that's a whole other, that's a whole other amount of money.
00:54:48If you have a kid and a gang leader off here, I am young, a thousand dollars to go and do something, but you see Michael Jordan sign a mega contract for a hundred million US, if you had that, that coach mentor, you say, wait, nah, I don't need your thousand TT as a gang leader, I'm going to train in basketball, I'm going to become the next Keishon Walcott or the next Dwight York, and that's what we need, and that will, that will help with a lot of the problems we have with the youths.
00:55:11They know they can make a lot of money out there in sports.
00:55:14So, why are they there? Closing thoughts.
00:55:15Yeah, I just, again, I just hope that this show brings the education to the people and realize that sport is for all, it's not just for the athletes, it's the fans, it's the supporters, it's the support staff, so I think that we need to, as a country, really put that focus onto sport and culture, like Jay said, and get behind our heroes, we've done it, with minimal resources, imagine if we spent a little bit more, what we can do.
00:55:42For me, I think, you know, winning, it's natural, it's fun, it's what you want to do, as I've said, it's in a loss, you see somebody's heart and character, and I think it's time we take a loss, as not so much a loss, but a lesson, a lesson to be better, to improve, and to win the next time around, and even in that particular loss, shake the winner's hand, man, shake the hand and tell them all the best, and congratulate them sincerely,
00:56:12and just say, you know what, just have planned and plotted that, you know what, you'll probably get around with it the next time, that's why I see it, that's been my lesson, that's what sport apply, help me apply in actual real life.
00:56:24Sport is not only for entertainment, whether you're an athlete or you're a fan, you could gain some inspiration from it, and as this is manhood, for those men watching, a great sportsman only becomes great because of hard work, and even if your interest is not sport, whatever you're choosing to be an Olympian in, right, whatever area of life, whatever you choose to be an Olympian in, work hard and always aim to become first.
00:56:52Yeah, I like that, whatever you want to be an Olympian in.
00:56:56Of course, of course, that's the gold standard, I like that.
00:56:59That is the gold standard.
00:57:00Some nice keywords here today, so, you know, Olympian in all.
00:57:05I like that.
00:57:05You know, and you use the word mental gymnastics.
00:57:08Mental gymnastics.
00:57:10What you want to be an Olympian in, whatever it may be.
00:57:12Whatever that may be, so the key takeaway, the watchwords here today, you know, for your way of life, discipline, resilience,
00:57:22keep trying, be graceful in defeat.
00:57:25Professionalism.
00:57:27Professionalism, yeah.
00:57:28Be an Olympian in whatever you do, that mentality, that champion mindset.
00:57:34So, life lessons in sport, you know, get into a sport or look into a sport or take on the lessons that can be learned from sport.
00:57:43Robert, when does a boxer lose?
00:57:44When he's getting knocked down or when he don't get back up?
00:57:46So, you might get knocked down two, three times, but once you keep getting up, you'll never lose.
00:57:53So, I might get knocked down, but once I keep getting up, I'm never going to lose in life.
00:58:01That's a good way to take us out.
00:58:04This is my man.
00:58:06Johan C, CB, Che.
00:58:08Johan C, CB, CHO, CHO, CHO, CHO, CHO.
00:58:38Life is rough and you won't give up, cause nothing now.
00:58:41Go on ice.
00:58:42Go on ice.
00:58:43When you feel like you're just starting off and you can go by.
00:58:47Go by.
00:58:48When you smile through the pain in your life, but you really won't cry.
00:58:52Won't cry.
00:58:53When the burden's too much and you feel like you won't give up, boy.
00:58:57Life's how we journey, sometimes easy, sometimes hard.
00:59:02If you fight with your might and strength, but don't forget your heart, too.
00:59:07In your heart, you're a lion Yeah
00:59:12So if you shine your light and win your fight like a champion and say after me
00:59:17Never give up in a life in me knowing that you are a champion
00:59:24Never give up in a life in me knowing that you are a champion
00:59:29I say growl by conditions
00:59:38Never give up in a life a mi know you are a champion
00:59:44Never give up in a life a mi know you are a champion
00:59:47Say wubuubuwa because you're legal bottle and wah
00:59:51As a illegal bottle and wah
00:59:54Never give up in a life a mi know you are a champion
00:59:59Resilient at heart, and strong in manheid spirit how it time
01:00:02Feel me big up my ele., From your trust in a god
01:00:05and fight in this life you go win cause your win I go leave you in your heart you are a
01:00:10lion yeah in your heart you are a lion yeah so your face shine your light and win your
01:00:16fight like a champion and say after me never give up in a life for me no you are a champion
01:00:22never give up in a life for me no you are a champion
01:00:27say wawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawawaw
01:00:57Never give up in a life for me, know you are a champion
01:01:04Never give up in a life for me, know you are a champion
01:01:08Say what I'm going to do, I'm going to be a little bottle
01:01:12I see a little bottle
01:01:15Never give up in a life for me, know you are a champion
01:01:19No matter where you're going through in this life, don't give up, keep on fighting
01:01:29Once you have gold in your thoughts and in your heart, you must make it, don't give up, champion, thank you
01:01:35Manhood, brought you in part by, Reboot, Super Farm and Solomon's Bespoke