ESU SL100 Fall 2020

Sometimes you have leaders that you meet that inspire you to become better than you are now. Sometime you meet leaders that do not show a very good example. But what is a good leader? Do you measure a good leader based off what they have done for you, or for what they are known for? I see those are very relevant. Even more so is just only famous actions, activists, sports icon? Well the person I have chosen is Eternal Grand Master H. U. Lee the founder of the American Taekwondo Association. Although I have never met him personally, I can feel the power in his leadership from those who knew met best,those who trained with and spent time with him. His philosophy was simple. “Today not possible… Tomorrow possible!”. He leadership ensure the his legacy and the association would live on after he died. ATA is going on strong for over 50 years. It has become one of the world leader in Taekwondo, and is the largest Licensing organization. Even after his death people still talk about the impact he had on their lives. Even now I can still feel his impact in my life and in my Taekwondo.

https://youtu.be/7M56s5gRAPM

This clip is of Alex Smith’s former coach Andy Reid explaining how Alex Smith mentored Patrick Mahomes. Alex Smith knew going into the season after they drafted Mahomes that this would be his final season in Kansas City. Instead of going to the media and complaining he took Mahomes under his wing and mentored him in all aspects. He helped out learning the playbook and different things that go all with being the quarterback and being the leader of the team. He also showed him how to get use to be in the NFL and dealing with the fame of being in the NFL.

https://youtu.be/0ZvQo4IQSKI

I picked Tim Duncan for a leadership role because he is one of my favorite players of all time and someone that I think everyone can learn from. The video I attached talks about how much of a role model Duncan was for the San Antonio Spurs. He was drafted by the Spurs in 1997 and lead the Spurs to the playoffs every year from 1998 to 2016 when he retired. He also led the Spurs to five championships, including 3 Finals MVP’s. I think people should look up to Tim because of how humble he was on and off the court. He always encouraged teammates, trusted his teammates, and listened to Coach Popovich even though he was one of the best players in the NBA. I believe that Tim is underrated as a player because of his humbleness and he was not flashy on the court, and because of that, I think he deserves to be a top 5 player of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-STgy2pCxxs

The person who inspires me in the sports and in life is Rich Froning. He competes professionally in crossfit. First off, the sport of crossfit takes a lot of time and dedication. Working out 3 times a day 6 out 7 days a week for a couple hours each time with accessory work. There is not really an offseason to the sport since there are events all year long. Having the dedication, drive, and mental toughness to keep at it everyday alone is impressive. Rich has all those characteristics and more. He has won the crossfit games as an individual 4 times and all consecutive (2011,2012,2013,2014). He then retired from being an individual competitor and turned team. Then went on to win the crossfit games team competition 4 out of the next 5 years (2015,2016,2018,2019), getting 2nd in 2017. Having success is one thing but being able to do it both as an individual and on a team shows what kind of person and leader that he is in the sport. While also running his own crossfit gym, running his own farm, and being a father to 3 young kids. It shows how ridiculous his work ethic is and how selfless he is as a person. He still has the same drive and work ethic that he did when he started competing in 2009. Even after all those years and wins he still is not done getting better everyday that he steps in the gym. If it were not for Covid he would probably be standing on top the podium again with his team bringing him his 9th crossfit games championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ze-f7jS2A&index=300&list=LLjcZttkq_v5gcnHIck5aO8g

The person I chose who inspires me in sports is Adam Thielen. The reason that I chose Adam is because he was a D2 athlete who had a $500 scholarship to play football. He had a decent college career and had just got a job selling dental products. Shortly after he started that job he got a call that there would be a combine near him and he worked his tail off to make it to the league. A $500 scholarship and work ethic got him to be a mentor to the younger receivers now and one of the top players in the NFL.
https://youtu.be/OSXtQoa6KLA

Nathan Ewing
SL100A
August 31, 2020
Video/Mentor
https://twitter.com/EmporiaStTrack/status/1234262191949389824?s=20

I have chosen Steven Blocker as my mentor because of how hard he works as an individual and a coach. Coach Blocker is the Emporia State University Track and Field head coach. I met Coach Blocker two years ago when I asked him about transferring to Emporia State for track. From the first time I met him I had tremendous respect for him as a person. He was very respectable and made me feel like I was important. I was really impressed with him because after we had talked he did his research and by the next time we talked he knew what events I did and my talent level. He had actually remembered wanting to recruit me out of high school but did not think Emporia would have been able to accommodate my talent. I am so glad I reached out to him because this is the perfect track family for me. Another reason why I really respect coach Blocker is because he pushes us to our limits but doesn’t try to kill us. He also is one of the hardest workers I have ever met. I strive to be like him when I am an adult because of his work ethic. I watch him during some of his workouts and he goes insanely hard. His workouts make our track workouts look like a warm up. Knowing how hard he works out and how he still makes our practices doable but decently tough gives me so much more respect for him. The last reason I respect him and see him as a mentor is because he truly cares about each of his athletes. He does not tell us what we want to hear, he tells us what we need to hear and is honest about what he wants out of us
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Mason Thiessen
SL100

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DtmFiA1aYo

The peron I chose as a leader in sports today was Damian Lillard. I respect Damian Lillard as a leader because he has remained loyal to Portland. In sports today, there are so many people that leave when things get rough or if their team is not talented. Lillard has improved every season and his team has as well. Despite being knocked out by the Lakers in the first round, Dame will be a leader in the NBA for years to come.

Someone that I look up to and have looked up to for a long time is Kansas head basketball coach Bill Self. As a kid growing up in Emporia Kansas and growing up and being not only a basketball fan but also a Kansas basketball fan. Bill Self has been coaching at Kansas almost as long as I have been born. He has always been successful at Kansas but his success started way before his coaching career did at KU. He has been successful everywhere he has coached and all of his players have nothing but good things to say about him. This is why I look up to Bill Self and why I have been a big fan since I was a little kid.

https://youtu.be/mxZsAm_O9MQ