Jimmy Chitwood: MVP of Hickory?
We all have those movies we tend to watch again regardless of how many times we’ve seen them.
When my mother bought our first VCR in the late fall of 1987, I had just started playing organized basketball in middle school and quickly developed basketball fever. Our first trip to Blockbuster Video resulted in renting the movie Hoosiers.
The movie remains one of my favorites and constantly watchable for a couple of reasons. First, it reminds me of the joy I felt of finally owning a piece of high-tech equipment at a time when my single mother and I were struggling to make ends meet.
Second, the movie (based on a true story) serves up a healthy dose of David versus Goliath storytelling as Norman Dale, a former college basketball coach with a blackspot on his resumé, leads a town of undersized, farm boys from Hickory High School to the1954 Indiana state championship game.
It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve watched the last few minutes of the movie or how many lines I can quote while getting there, I always root for Hickory not to crack.
We enjoy many movies like Hoosiers featuring an underdog working against insurmountable odds. The constant reminder of hope when facing big challenges always has a place to live in our mind, heart and spirit.
Maybe suffering a recent layoff and/or finding that next job or moving into that next career feels like an insurmountable obstacle. It’s our character during those times and beyond that matters the most. We often look to heroes as examples of perseverance, patience and strength.
Hoosiers features a character named Jimmy Chitwood, a reluctant star of the basketball team who refuses to play for Coach Dale at first, but when he decides to play, his addition to the team makes them very competitive.
Jimmy is the character most remember. His skills on the court and his dedication to practice seem to make him the savior of the team and the reason Hickory advances beyond their wildest sports dreams.
But there is another character in the movie worth learning from.
Merle is a character that serves his team well. He remains at the first practice when others walk away. He is coachable. He challenges his teammates when they aren’t following the plan. He encourages his teammates when they need it the most. He isn’t afraid to take responsibility when asked to take the big shot during one scenario while also knowing who needs to take the big shot in another scenario for the benefit of the team.
During a scene where the team tells each other why they want to win the championship game, Merle says, “I want to win for all the small schools who never got here.”
The selflessness of the character Merle stands out to me over many rewatches. It also reminds me more of the character of our savior Jesus Christ in how He treated his disciples and ultimately mankind when He provided the ultimate service of sacrifice at the cross.
From beginning to end, Merle shows servant leadership.
It’s this type of leadership we need everyday in every facet of life regardless of the final tally on the scoreboard or who was responsible for lighting it up. Like Hoosiers, Simon Sinek’s TED talk is always worth a visit on why leaders “eat last”.
Whether you are currently in a position of leadership in your career today or in the process of finding that next role, you don't have to wait to lead. Your family, friends, church, a non-profit you serve, neighbor, or all of the above could use your example of selflessness.
Will selflessness mark your brand of leadership today?