Hartman a sports legend
The dominant sports media personality in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area for most of the last 75-plus years never played any of the games he wrote about and never made it to college, much less journalism school. But he became one of the most popular newspaper and radio personalities in town, with a broadcast style that was no more polished than his writing style. And he blew away all competitors because of his network of relationships and pure doggedness.
Sid Hartman went to that great stadium in the sky on Oct.18, at age100. Affectionately known around Minnesota and the entire sports world by his first name, Sid may never make it to any sports Halls of Fame, but if they ever get around to building a Networking Hall of Fame, he would be the first one they would call.
Talent is a gift, but like many gifts, we often take it for granted. If Sid had applied equal energy, dedication, and perseverance to another career, I’m certain he would have achieved the same great success he attained as a sportswriter.
Competition is what made Sid the best sports reporter around. He hated to get beaten to a scoop. Sid was an inspiration not only to legions of sports personalities, but also to his readers and listeners, who appreciated his work ethic and dogged pursuit of a good story. He understood that slacking off would take away his edge. He saw sports reporting as a competition in itself. He almost always won.
No matter what industry you are in, competition is healthy. It keeps you sharp. It improves quality. Competition is like exercise; it makes you better.
Consider the two hikers who spotted a mountain lion stalking them. One of the hikers calmly sat down, took off his hiking boots and began putting on his running shoes.
“What good are those shoes going to do you?” asked his buddy. “You can’t outrun a mountain lion!”
Lacing up his shoes, the friend responded, “I don’t have to outrun the lion. I just have to outrun you.”
Sid outran the lions every day. He was a competitor to the end.
Mackay’s Moral: The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it’s competition.