By Dr. Russ

Now that a fortnight of Olympic competition has been completed we can reflect on the meaning and inspiration the games have had for conveying a spirit of international optimism.

What is international optimism? For me it is a collaborative spirit of: 1) hope that we can work together across culture and country in a peaceful and respectful manner; 2) a willingness to set mutually beneficial goals across cultures and nations, and 3) a never-give-in-belief that striving towards such cooperation and joint efforts is worthwhile.

Certainly, the 2010 Olympics embodied all three of these elements.

•    Athletes actually upheld the wonderful tradition of peaceful respect when they lined up and shook each others hands after a team competition.  
•    While there are disputes over judging and rules interpretations, it is clear that the International Olympic Committee along with the individual national committees have strived to make continual improvements in the quality of judging and fairness of rules for all.  Optimism is not about the perfect set of rules or judges, but about being self-reflective and self-corrective on a continual basis.  
•    Apolo Ohno exemplified such an optimistic cooperative Olympic spirit when he took his disqualification in the 500 meter speed skating final in stride, did not complain or blame other athletes or judges.

Some might say that the games are just a diversion and distraction from the larger problems of international politics particularly those involving war and human rights violations.  As such, the pessimistic view is that they only provide an illusion of hope and optimism.

Games are an Opportunity

The modern Olympics have less than a 100 year history.  With the split of summer and winter Olympics into alternate 4 year cycles, we now get to bathe in the light of Olympic OPTIMISM once every two years.  

In the last 100 years we have seen sports competition be the platform for needed social change and justice. For example, sport played a significant role in the facilitating racial equality in the United States over the last 50 years.

While the 2010 games seemed less politicized than some Olympics in years past, we must continue to guard against using the event as a Political International Hockey Puck in order to prevent the demise of Olympic Optimism.   Memories of Munich in1972, Moscow in 1980, and Los Angeles in 1984 are all too vivid reminders of the pessimistic potential of political pugilistic pugnaciousness.

Perhaps there was less “fight talk” in 2010 because Canada is known for some relative degree of international neutrality.  The next Winter games will be in Sochi, Russia, and the absence of politics may not fare so well.

Nevertheless, I continue to view the Olympic Games as an opportunity to foster international collaboration and yes “world peace.”  It will require great effort, leadership, and an Olympian sized never-say-die attitude.

Ryan Miller MVP

The Lansing areas own Ryan Miller was named the Olympic Ice Hockey Most Valuable Player despite a loss to Canada for the Gold Medal.  Ryan won the award despite losing the final game because he made a record setting number of saves while playing goalie; never gave up striving to stop that “PUCK.”

To read more about Olympic inspired international optimisim check out this week's Dr. Russ Bussters.

By Dr. Russ

Today is the 30th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” when the U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey defeated the USSR/Russian Team. Herb Brooks was the coach of the team.  A careful examination of his coaching tactics shows that his style reflected someone who was a master of “SKILLED OPTIMISM;” able to bring the absolute best performance out of a group of amateur college athletes, generally thought of as “lightweights,” with no chance to win a medal of any kind.

Who was Herb Brooks?

Herb Brooks was the forgotten man from the “Forgotten Miracle on Ice,” USA Gold Medal Victory over the Russians in 1960, Squaw Valley, California.  Herb had been cut from the final team’s roster.  After winning three NCAA National Hockey Titles in the 1970’s as coach of the University of Minnesota Hockey Team, he was selected to coach the US Hockey Olympic Team in 1979.

Perhaps because he felt denied the opportunity to win Gold in 1960, Herb was extra motivated to win some Gold of his own, now as a coach.  While some (including the losing Russian’s to this day) think he did some “Magic” and pulled off a “Hockey Hat Trick,” he in fact used a fascinating array of motivational, optimism inspiring strategies   to prepare this team for one incredible challenge.

One Shining Moment

A Centurion Moment of Optimism: As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Foundation (IIHF) picked the “Miracle on Ice” as the number-one international hockey story of the century.

Yes, this victory was a really BIG DEAL for the SELF-ESTEEM of the USA.  It was “One Grand Shining Moment of Optimism.” To learn more about the “Skilled Optimism” of Herb Brooks and how to translate that learning into lessons for your life check out today’s list of Dr. Russ Bussters in the Moment-to-Moment Optimism Blog.

.

By Dr. Russ

There are many lessons of optimism to be learned from participating in all sports including persistence, motivation, skill improvement, overcoming setbacks, living with pain, pushing oneself to an individual peak performance, recovering from injuries, and “coming from behind.”  These types of lessons are universal to any sport at any level of competition including children’s soccer played by kindergartners and the winter sports played by the elite athletes of the Olympics.

I have been an avid Olympics competition viewer all my life.  All of this viewing has been on television with the exception of the 1996 summer games held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.  I was awestruck seeing the LIVE track and field, swimming, badminton, fencing, etc.  It was then I realized I was watching the intersection of the highest level of skill and motivation. “These men and women really are good,” I said to myself.  It was as if I was watching a Renoir or a Picasso being painted right before my eyes.

Yes, these are highly skilled and able athletes many born into families that have spawned generations of elite athletes.  But, to reach this level of excellence there has to be something much more than an inborn skill or ability.  What explains the effort, single-mindedness, long-term focus, self-sacrifice often for ten, twenty or more years? And, in the Winter Olympics - What explains the willingness to risk limb, body and even life as these athletes go downhill at speeds of 90 MPH, fly off a ski jump, do acrobatic flips and spins in freestyle skiing and figure skating with nothing to land on but hard ice and packed snow?

I ask myself. I ask you.  What drives these individuals? Surely the answer must be captured in the phrase made popular by ABC sports and Jim McKay in the 1970’s “The Thrill of Victory.”

Let’s examine that assumption with a few facts.

•    82 countries are participating in the Vancouver Olympics.  
•    2,732 athletes are competing
•    There are 15 Winter Olympic Sports each with multiple events including separate one’s for men and women
•    A total of 86 separate events are open for competition
•    There are three medals available for each event: Gold, Silver and Bronze
•    Three times 86 equals a total of 258 available medals; 86 of which are Gold
•    2,732 athletes divided by 258 available medals means that only 9.4% of the competitors can win a medal
•    91.5% of Olympic competitors will NOT WIN A MEDAL!!!!
•    86 Gold Medals will be awarded; a mere 3% of competitors will win a Gold
•    97% of competitors will go home without a GOLD MEDAL

SO WHY DO THESE ATHLETES COMPETE?

If these statistics mean anything it is NOT for the “Thrill of Victory.” Furthermore, 90% experience the rest of the ABC, McKay phrase: “The Agony of Defeat.”

Or, is defeat really “Agony.”  I suspect for these elite athletes, any “agony” after defeat is short lived; back to the training grind to get better.  More “agony” may be experienced with the pain of injury, but even this pain is short-lived as they engage in rehab and begin the training regimen one more time.

Perhaps these athletes not only have elite ability and motivation, but also an ELITE sense of OPTIMISM that is at the core of WHY THEY COMPETE!!!

Check out today’s Olympic inspired Dr. Russ Bussters to learn more about this ELITE form of OPTIMISM.

By Dr. Russ

What can we learn about how to become a “skilled optimist” from Super Bowl Forty-Four (XLIV)? The story of the New Orleans Saints victory epitomizes the meaning of the Dr. Russ Buss version of “optimism.” Optimism is a complex skill to be learned and is not simply about hope, good feeling, happiness or a positive view.  Instead it is about resilience, challenge, overcoming incredible odds, not with luck, but with effort and skill.

The New Orleans Saints have a history of being one of the worst teams in National Football League history.  Dubbed the “Aint’s” in the 1980’s, enduring the ridicule of fans wearing paper bags over their heads in the 1990’s, suffering the almost franchise ending devastation of hurricane Katrina, they have somehow survived and thrived.

The game itself was a model of optimistic moments with the risk taking of a second half opening on-side kick; a record tying winning quarterback performance of 32 completed passes and 10 point come from behind victory; the successful “challenge” and reversal of a two point conversion call; receiver Jeremy Shockey’s persistence in holding onto the pass until the ball broke the plane of the end zone; and the never-let-up intensity, even when leading late in the game, of the defenseman Terry Porter’s interception and runback for a game sealing, winning touchdown.

We often find a little irony within this complex view of “optimism.” Let’s see:  A guy named Archie Manning was the first, famous quarterback for the Saints throughout ten losing seasons in the 1970’s. Many of his records stood until the arrival of current winning quarterback Drew Brees.  Archie didn’t give up. He begat a son, Peyton, who while bringing long awaited honor to the Manning name with a Super Bowl victory and ring in 2007 (for the 2006 season) was the losing QB in this Super match-up.  New Orleans has a head coach with last name P(a)ton who arrived along with Drew Brees in New Orleans in 2006.

Ok, Dr. Russ, I am beginning to understand this complex view of “optimism.”  But, how can I translate this “Super Bowl Optimism” into specific strategies that result in my becoming a better “skilled optimist.” To find an answer - click on the link: Moment-to-Moment Optimism. Check out today’s Super Bowl inspired Dr. Russ Bussters.