From Roy Hobbs to Rocky Balboa—We Remember Robert Redford

As my students walked into class this morning, I played the theme from The Natural. To hear Randy Newman's masterpiece, especially inside a baseball stadium is an ethereal experience—otherworldly, delicately beautiful, light, and spiritual. In class, I did not expect the prologue to bring us to another realm, but I did want to set the tone to honor the American actor, activist, director and producer: Robert Redford. He died in sleep; he was 89 years old.

I was too young to see Robert Redford’s most popular films in theaters—The Way We Were, The Sting, The Great Gatsby, as well as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid— among others. But in 1984, I saw The Natural at the Dome theater in Pleasant Hill. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I loved the era, the setting, the symbolism of Wonderboy and the character of Roy Hobbs. Redford was too old for the role (he was 47) but to me, he was a good fit. Why? He had a great voice. It is low, measured and quietly authoritative. Those qualities gave Roy Hobbs a sense of dignity, humility, and determination. He emerges as a man who lets his actions, not his words, speak loudest. 

I read Bernard Malamud's novel, "The Natural" in high school. I was shocked to discover the ending was far different than what I had seen on the silver screen. That dissonance confirmed, "The Natural is not just a baseball movie—it’s a mythic American parable dressed in the rhythms and imagery of the sport." (Rolling Stone). In this instance, the protagonist might have been Robert Redford—and not Roy Hobbs.

On KGO radio I learned that Robert Redford once admitted he felt discriminated against because of his good looks. Casting directors, he said, sometimes dismissed him for roles, believing his “All-American” image made him unfit for certain characters. It struck me as a curious plight—being too handsome for Hollywood—but in at least one case, I think he was right. The 1976 Academy Award winning film: Rocky. 

Can you imagine Robert Redford as Rocky Balboa? Could you cheer for Redford as the Italian Stallion? I couldn't. And yet, it could have happened—if not for the grit and resolve of Sylvester Stallone, who not only wrote the script but insisted on playing the role himself.

According to Screenrant, 

Producers and directors loved Stallone’s script but weren’t enamored with the idea of him playing the main character, which was a condition he insisted upon. Instead, they had much bigger names in mind, such as Peyton Place’s Ryan O’Neill, Burt Reynolds, Robert Redford, and James Caan. The latter three were all Hollywood A-listers and household names that audiences were accustomed to seeing on the big screen. To the producers, it just made sense for someone like one of them to star in a movie with Rocky’s potential.

I find this anecdote to be a fascinating one. Sometimes we make choices to be part of something or not. At other times, the decision is made for us. Had he earned the leading role, would Redford have accepted the part of Rocky? Do you think he too could yell "Yo Adrienne?"

Life takes funny turns—up and down, in and out. We are left with memories, stories, images, and song. Whether it’s Sir John Williams’ masterpiece, the theme from Out of Africa, or the mystical melody of The Natural, Robert Redford gave us a face, a voice, and a presence that captured our imagination and our hearts. Not in the boxing ring, but on the baseball field, while fly fishing, and in so many other moments. And perhaps, in the end, the words he spoke are the truest: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.”

Photo Credits
The Natural
Rocky

What is the Breakfast of Champions: Answers from Unexpected People and Places

Perhaps you will remember a significant turning point in the movie "Rocky." Mickey arrives late night to Rocky's apartment in a drunken plea. Rocky listens with a deaf ear as he throws darts at his bathroom door. The two men verbally spar. Rocky's had it. He enters the bathroom, closes the door—shutting Mickey out. When Mick leaves, Rocky unleashes the rawest of emotions only run to down the street and embrace Mickey a few minutes later. We can't hear what they discuss, but it's clear—Rocky relents. He must have said, "You're hired." The next morning. Rocky wakes up at 4:00 a.m., hits the alarm and immediately gets out of bed. Rock goes to the refrigerator and cracks open, not one, not three but six eggs and drinks them for breakfast. For fun, I ask my students: on a scale of one to ten, How gross is that breakfast? (I will post my viewer's guide soon). And, Is it the breakfast of champions?

While Wheaties cereal might have coined term, the BofC, I love the question. If food is fuel, What is the Breakfast of Champions? And whether or not Rocky continued to drink eggs on training days, What is your breakfast of champions? For those of you who travel to South Bend, IN I have a suggestion. Even if you don't go there, there's a life lesson in here, too.

To me, a championship breakfast it devoid of sugar. Therefore, most cereals, muffins and pastries are off limits. For others, a good breakfast disinvites a heart attack. So many hotels and restaurants offer bacon and sausage, home fries and hash browns, biscuits and gravy. Cholesterol city. No thanks. At St. Francis High School, the principal made a point of having hot breakfast for teachers on inservice days. Did that make us feel like champions? Let me give credit where credit is due. Some of them were pretty darn good. Thank you, Katie! I think your care and intention might be one of the essential ingredients for this type of meal. Read on...

If you're like me, you enjoy staying at a hotel that offers free breakfast. It's nice to wake up and not have to go very far to eat and get the day going. In some hotels, you will find processed and packaged offerings, fruit that is no fun and cheap. At others you might have a breakfast bar, omelette stations, and more. To be honest, I'll take what is given. Free is free, right?

For the past two years, I have stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites in South Bend for the Alumni Association Leadership Conference. This hotel has an ideal location. One can easily walk to campus and its proximity helps me get to my meetings on time. 

Running slow and lagging behind due to that three hour time change, I remember feeling grateful that I could just grab and go. I picked up a bagel and put it in the toaster. It must have been obvious that I was in a rush. An employee came up to me and said "You know the longer you stare at that bagel, the longer it takes to come out of the toaster." It was so unexpected and so funny, I didn't even have a come back. His made me laugh, smile and relax—even if just for a few minutes! When that bagel popped from the toaster, I enjoyed it that much more. 

Returning to that hotel this year, I saw that same employee. He greets all the patrons. He asks them about their morning. He is always organizing the offerings, replenishing supplies, emptying garbage and keeping things clean. His name is Martin. 

Though I opted to go no bagel, I told him, "last year, you shared a brilliant comment. I haven't forgotten." I repeated  what he said." He smiled and said "well, it's true right?" He added, "this morning we have breakfast tacos. I have put out all the ingredients right here." He approached another guest and said "add a little chorizo to that. It gives a lot of flavor. Fresh salsa is over there." Martin emerged a few moments later with a sign that had said "breakfast taco bar" I told him "I would not have thought to make a breakfast taco, but you and that drawing are convincing." It was the Breakfast of Champions. 

I might have missed the opportunity for this delicious meal, had we not had that encounter.  Another board member came over to me and said "I'm going to head to the meeting. The breakfast here isn't very good. Theirs is better." I replied "not today. Check this out." I pointed to my breakfast tacos. I said "they have fresh sliced strawberries too." She said "that looks great. And it will save me time."

I have no idea what it must be like to work in a hotel, let alone oversee free breakfast for over 200 people. However, I do know that Martin and others work in the hospitality industry and that is exactly what I encountered during my stay. I also know that hard work, taking pride in a job well done, being creative, and having fun make something go for ordinary to extraordinary. That breakfast surpassed my expectations because someone was willing to go the distance. I think it was the breakfast of champions because it was really good food, made with cariño. 

Though Fairfield Inn and Suites doesn't offer raw eggs for breakfast, perhaps they should ask their patrons: On a scale of 1-10, how was breakfast? I know my answer: Breakfast of champions. Thanks, Martin! 

Photo Credit
Rocky
Ali
Fairfield Inn and Suites

Top Moments in Sports History are...MAGNIFICENT

This week, "Rocky"—the first of three sports movies to have earned the Academy Award for Film of the Year—turned 40. My dad was lucky enough to see it at the theater. Asking him about it at Thanksgiving, he said, "Rocky grew in popularity. I went and saw it solo, I guess because your sister was a newborn. As the training montage was unfolding, I realized I was seeing something very special. I remember exiting the theater and thinking—Wow, I just saw something great." 

Happy 40th

Perhaps you have had a similar realization. Sometimes, we are lucky enough to grasp that something remarkable is unfolding in the moment. Other times, we understand—after the fact—that we were a witness to excellence. Such events are why we are drawn to live performances—a concert, a play, a speech, or an athletic contest. We are hoping to get a taste of greatness. It is succulent....it's tremendously gratifying. It sustains us long after; its memory is sweet.

On Tuesday, November 22 sitting in McCullough Gymnasium at St. Ignatius College Prep, I felt as though I were a part of one of the top moments in SI sports history, both during the game itself and thereafter. The varsity girls volleyball team defeated Campolindo in the Nor-Cal semifinals on Drucker Court (3-1). Though these girls have played in many exciting games, the energy of this particular match-up was unlike others. I give credit to a loud and proud student section, the timing of the game—the night before a holiday break, the winter temperatures outside offset by the warmth of the gym and the SI family and most importantly: the sheer talent, raw athleticism, strength, power, agility and grace of the volleyball teams. The sum of these parts made for an incredible contest. 

I remember looking at the girls on the court and thinking St Irenaeus had it right:

The glory of God is the human person fully alive. 

Those athletes—using their gifts and talents, battling back from a deficit in the lynchpin game (#3), their coaches, their spirit, their hops—they are a manifestation of that great glory. They have never been so alive...and we were too as we witnessed their feat.

I believe the best word to describe such moments in sports, cinematic, theatrical or music history, is "magnificent."  I attribute that realization to Richard Gaillardetz who described what we see, feel and know in his essay "For the Love of the Game." In it, he writes:

The ability of the dedicated athletes to develop and pursue excellence through training and commitment is not unrelated to the larger call to growth as human persons. Let us return, to Thomas Aquinas who described the virtue of magnificence. Magnificence refers to the accomplishment of greatness. It is realized whenever a person makes the most of their God-given gifts. According to Thomas the opposite of magnificence is the vice of parvificence, often rendered in English as meanness. Meanness here does not convey the contemporary sense of the word, suggesting some malicious action, but rather it refers to one who makes too little use of their gifts or abilities. Through the pursuit of excellence in any and every sphere of life, we strive to become the person God invites us to be. Andrew Cooper reflects on the connection between the pursuit of excellence and the appreciation of sports as a craft:

By investing an activity with one's dedication, aspiration, discipline, skill and knowledge, one's identity is linked to it. In some indefinable way, part of one's self is in the work. Through craftsmanship, a sport becomes an expression of the athlete's total self and the means by which the self recognizes its own excellence.

I dare say, we need these moments, for they connect us to one another and something much larger...the source of it all. When we are a witness to magnificence, we can't hold it for ourselves. We have to share it. Excellence begets excellence....magnificence begets magnificence.

My favorite part of this past Thanksgiving was after the meal, my mom, dad, sister and I sat down to play a game called "Sequence." My sister put down a marker and I said "take it back." The next thing I know she sings "Take You Back" and without missing a beat I said "do-do-do-do Take You back." It's the ditty that some of Rocky's friends sing on a down and out street corner in South Philly. They are gathered around the fire, they have a great voices, it's got good beat...and it's why we started discussing my dad's experience of seeing the movie 40 years prior. 

It's just one small part of what makes "Rocky" great...the magnificence of the musical score by Bill Conti punctuated by do-wop on the street corner. During the volleyball game on Tuesday, I looked at the coach, standing alone...standing quietly as his athletes did all the work. It's noticing the big moments and the small ones along the way but make a good contest, much more than great....it's magnificent.

Photo Credits
Girls VB: Thank you Paul Totah!
Rocky and Adrian