How important is being the "Man" in sports?

[DaLittle B]

People are still talking about the Superbowl,and Cam Newton. He was the "man" all year,till he had a bad game in the Superbowl.(I was listening to a couple guy's talking about him this morning in a waiting room)

Jason Heyward after signing with the Cubs,said in an interview He was happy to just be apart of the team,not have to be the "Man" (paraphrased).The Cardinals players,media,etc didn't like it. It made for some off season theater.

What do you think of when you hear someone talk about being the "man" in sports?

Does your best/highest paid player/have to be the "man"?

[DaLittle B]

For me,I see it differently in different sports. I immediately thought of John Stockton,when talking to a couple of guy's at work.

  Sorry, phone rang,I thought I had to run...

In Football,A Qb needs O-lineman,and Wr's,Te's,Rb's to catch the ball.While in Baseball,1 great pitcher still needs a defense,and his offense.A position player is probably more apt to be the "man".

[masterfins]

I think this year's SB goes to show that when it comes to team sports you have to rely on your fellow teammates to become the "man".  Had Newton been the benefactor of some stellar blocking he may have come out of the SB with a big smile; and he would have got the credit, with the blockers that protected him merely a footnote.  In individual sports like Tennis, Golf, Boxing, etc. it's easy to declare some one is the man.  So, when I see a team player call himself the man, I think of him as selfish and arrogant.  Now if fans want to call him the man, I don't have a problem with it, I just take that as an indication that he is an invaluable player.

[CF DolFan]

I agree masterphins. One of the questions in a Super Bowl contest we played was who would the MVP thank first upon accepting the award. The options were God, himself, his mother, his family, teammates or something else. I picked teammates and sure enough Miller thanked the other guys on the team. Typically those who are at the top in sports realize they need support ... although I was worried if Cam had won it.  Every Jordan needs a Pippen or two to help out.

[Phishfan]

Being the man is very important but there is a fine line between confident and cocky. I want the guy to feel like the man but I don't need him talking about being the man.

[DaLittle B]

I agree with most of the above posts.

I feel it's more media driven term,picked up by fans,and used over,and over. Even the Best in the world didn't climb to the top by themselves.The best race car driver in the world is only as good as his vehicle he's racing in.Boxing,you have trainers,and corner,and a cut men. Even in professional golf,you have caddies,and swing guys.

I'm not sure it's a talent, leadership thing,a stats,or money thing.  

For me, I have to blab a bit about the Cubs here,because I see only missed a couple of games all last year.

We had many different guy's be the "Man" throughout the year. Jake Arrieta had an historic second half of the season pitching,but Jason Hammel had good 1st half of the season before getting hurt,and struggling through the second half. Early in the Season Joe madden said to Dexter Fowler "As you go,We Go" He had period where for like 2-3 weeks the ball was a beach ball.Kyle Schwarber in Cleveland was called up the be the DH when the offense was struggling,Kris Bryant,Chris Coghlan stepped up at times,Rizzo was good most of the the year.

I feel like in a team setting there needs to be feeling that they have those few guy's that are the "guy" are the man.They know everyone is important to the success of the team,the "guy",the "Man" can only do his thing with the others help. (I'm not sure if I'm saying that right?  )

[Dave Gray]

I think that it helps to be the "man", because of salaries.  The "man" is often sets the direction, can demand the highest pay, and carries the team on his shoulders.

It causes locker room strife when someone makes the big bucks but they are not the man or the most outspoken.  Not always, but you see it happen.

[Baba Booey]

It's important to a point. Being "the man" isn't just being a great player on the field. Being "the man" means being a good locker-room guy, being good with the press, not making headlines for stupid things that you can control (ie bar fights, DUI's...etc.)

Tom Brady (like him or not) is "the man." Russell Wilson is "the man." Same with Derek Jeter when he played. Lebron when he first went to Miami wasn't "the man" and had a lot of growing up to do, but has seemed to grow up some over the years and is now "the man."

Guys like Cam Newton who run away from the reporters and is more concerned with the color of his shoes and his new superman shirts isn't "the man" and isn't close to being "the man." He is just another spoiled immature athlete.  He isn't the only one there are many others in all sports.

But being the man translates to not just being a great player. Have to be a mature professional. And you don't need a player on your roster who is "the man" to win a championship in any sport.

[fyo]

Teams need someone who can step up and deliver when things aren't going well. It won't always result in a win -- it's a team after all -- but it raises everyone's game. I've played on teams where we had a guy who just never quit. Always a big smile, always gave 100%. Wasn't always the best player, but there was no question that we were a lot worse when "the man" wasn't there. I think probably even just having him on our sideline would have improved on-field performance.