I wrote about The Last Dance a couple weeks ago in a post called “What the Chicago Bulls and RxFIT Have In Common.” But I wanted to write more of my thoughts this morning again as the 10-part documentary came to end Sunday night.
Being on the Chicago Bulls in the 1990’s was for anyone, but not everyone. More specifically, being Michael Jordan’s teammate was for anyone, but not everyone.
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Rodman was known for his questionable actions off of the basketball court after joining the Bulls in 1995. One of those times was in 1997 where he received permission to travel to Las Vegas and miss two days of practice.
The problem then was that he stayed a lot longer than two days. He extended his trip for almost a week before returning back to Chicago.
Coach Phil Jackson was worried about Rodman’s conditioning, so he had the team perform Indian Runs in that first practice back — a drill where the team runs in a single-file line and the last person in that line sprints to the front while the rest of the team keeps jogging. This was an attempt to punish Rodman while kicking him back into shape.
Typically in an Indian Run when the last person reaches the front of the line, the next person in the back sprints to the front. But when it was Rodman’s run, he sprinted so far ahead of the line that the team had to play catch-up for multiple laps around the gym — they couldn’t catch him.
Rodman knew how to turn it on and work hard.
And although he could’ve used his late night parties as excuses, he would always show up ready to work hard and not make excuses.
Scottie Pippen
In 1991, Scottie Pippen signed a seven-year deal with the Bull’s General Manager, Jerry Krause. While it may have seemed like a good deal at the time, Scottie became a much better player in the years following ’91.
Argued by many as one of the best players in the NBA, he was the 122nd highest paid player in 1998 — a significantly underpaid player.
After six years of frustration, he decided to delay his ankle surgery until the 1997-1998 season began so he didn’t have to play the first half of the season. This was an open rebellion against management for being unwilling to negotiate a new deal.
However, Pippen was healthy beginning in January of ’98 and began to play again. He played hard despite his off-court contract.
For example, in Game 6 of the NBA finals he could barely walk due to back spasms. These spasm forced him to continue to go back and forth from the locker room to receive medication, massage, and electric stem.
But he wasn’t going to let that deny him another championship. He pushed through the pain and finished out the game. The Bulls went on to win the game and the series for another championship.
Although Pippen was significantly underpaid and underappreciated, he would always show up ready to work hard and not make excuses.
Takeaway
Jordan demanded the best from his teammates. And because he was so hard on them, they went on to win six championships in eight years.
Anyone willing to work hard and not make excuses became great teammates to Jordan. But everyone not willing to put in the hard work, or make excuses about things going on outside of the game, weren’t cut out to be on the greatest dynasty professional basketball has seen.
RxFIT is no different.
RxFIT
RxFIT is for anyone willing to work hard and not make excuses. However, it’s not for everyone.
If you don’t want to be sore from your workouts, RxFIT isn’t for you.
If you don’t want to discipline yourself with a bed time, RxFIT isn’t for you.
If you’re satisfied with being overweight and you don’t want to do anything about it, RxFIT isn’t for you.
If you make excuses about a gym membership being too expensive, RxFIT isn’t for you.
In short, if you don’t want to work hard and make excuses, RxFIT isn’t for you.
Just like the 1990’s Chicago Bulls, RxFIT is for anyone. Not everyone.
Tyler