They Don’t Boo Nobodys
Growing up in Bradford, PA we used to receive all the New York Yankee baseball games out of New York City. I remember the televison station was WPIX. I was such a huge Yankee fan, that I would have my mom write me an excuse to leave school early every year on Opening Day so I could get home to watch the Yankees first game of the season. I started following the Yankees in 1976 which was an awesome time to be a Yankee fan. Although they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1976 World Series, they ended up winning the World Series in 1977 and 1978.
After losing to the Reds in the 1976 World Series, the Yankees acquired a player named Reggie Jackson. Reggie had won a couple World Series with the Oakland Athletics and was as well known for his brashness, some would say arrogance, as he was for his baseball talent. Say what you want about Reggie, the facts are the Yankees won immediately upon Jackson’s arrival in The Bronx. He hit three home runs in one game, the same game that finished off the Dodgers in the 1977 series and the legend of Reggie was born.
The best part about Reggie Jackson is he received a reaction no matter where he went. He received mostly boos outside of New York and sometimes he was booed INSIDE his own stadium. When things were going good for Reggie, they were very good. The hometown crowd would chant R-E-G-G-I-E each time he came to the plate anticipating a big home run. Away from home Reggie would get booed, heckled, sworn at and anything else you can imagine.
When asked how he felt about being booed all the time, especially on the road, Jackson replied “They don’t boo nobodys.” Jackson knew he hit a nerve with everyone. Whether it was positive or negative, he got a reaction. He got that reaction because he had the courage to be himself with no apologies. He knew he had a gift and also had strong opinions at times about which direction the club should go. Sometimes those opinions would not go over well with management but Reggie didn’t care, it was usually the insecurity of the management team rather than him saying something wrong that caused tension.
In your daily life are you getting booed? Are people jealous or insecure of what you bring to the table? In the workforce you can find all kinds of people, but rarely will you find individuals who appreciate a breath of fresh air. More often you will find talking heads who just want to tip-toe through life so they can arrive safely at their grave. Mediocre malcontents with nothing better to do than stand in judgement of others. They play it safe as to not ruffle feathers, that way when they’re done acting, they can say “I made it through another day” and then prepare for another day on stage.
You need to be bold in your job and in life. Don’t be a sell out. If you truly want to be the best at what you do, you need to prepare for boos, it’s comes with the territory. There’s nothing wrong with telling the truth - the truth shall set you free. Step up and be counted. Dare to be great. Be somebody because “they don’t boo nobodys.”
Sam Crowley
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