Sports + music = magic

Aidan Hutchinson, one of the top draft picks in the NFL, has now become famous for his performance of ‘Billie Jean’ during Detroit’s training camp. Take a look.

Nothing brings us together like sports and music.

Nothing.

Not work.

Not school.

Not protests on the streets or self-righteous tweets.

And, it saddens me to say this, not even the church.

When people of all colors, nationalities and backgrounds become one, it’s always over the same two things.

It’s music.

And sports.

In that order. Or the other way around.

“All athletes want to be rappers. And all rappers want to be athletes.” — Former NBA star Dwyane Wade

D-Wade may be on to something, you know.

All great athletes have a certain rhythm and pace. All great performers carry a tune with agility and grace.

And when you bring the two together, it’s electric.

Magic, even.

Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer discovered that truth when they penned “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in 1908.

Every great sports movie features a training montage set to high-energy music. The theme from “Rocky” still gives me chills when I hear it.

What would a Pitt game be like without “Sweet Caroline?”

Or a Steelers game without “Renegade?”

Or a young athlete’s mixtape without rap lyrics?

Ever been to a Whiteout Night at Penn State when “Seven Nation Army” blares over the loudspeakers? Musical Nirvana.

 

“Sports without music is just a game. Music makes it entertaining.” — Ice Cube

 

OK, so it’s a lazy Thursday in August. What, or who, could possibly lead me to riff about the convergence of music and sports?

Aidan Hutchinson, that’s who.

Hutchinson is an NFL rookie from the maize and blue of Michigan who now wears the Honolulu blue of the Detroit Lions. He was the Number 2 overall pick in April’s draft, and he’s been looking like the second coming of T.J. Watt. Still, few people knew who he was.

Until Wednesday morning, that is.

That’s when a clip from the HBO series “Hard Knocks” went viral on social media. The video featured Hutchinson singing and dancing in front of this team as part of a rookie hazing experience. His song selection: “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson.

And it was awesome.

I don’t mean his singing. It was fine and it was fun. I certainly don’t mean how he moves, although he dances pretty well for a huge edge rusher.

What makes this clip so special is 100 men of different ages, backgrounds, skin colors and levels of talent came together over a song. And they came together even though they understand many of the guys in that room will be gone within a week.

As I said earlier, it’s music. It’s sports. And when you combine the two, it’s magic.

Not to go all deep on you, but watch the clip again and take note of …

•Hutchinson’s initial anxiety at singing for the group. But with a little affirmation, his uncertainty gives way to an impassioned performance. Think about your own stories. They’re always built on doing something just out of our comfort zones — and someone encouraging you to keep going.

•His teammates. Their initial look of embarrassment for Hutchinson soon morphed into pure joy when they realized he was all in. He wasn’t playin’ up there.

•Team unity (or should I say pandemonium). The squad’s meeting room transformed into a dance club. Again, there were nearly 100 men of different colors, races, religions, and family backgrounds in that space. They came together initially through sport. And they grew even closer through music.

Call me crazy, but Hutchinson’s performance might be the first step in a journey toward excellence for his guys. Over the past three years, Detroit is just 11-36-2. Not exactly a roaring resumé for these Lions.

But bonding moments like these, I like to call them “meaningful connections,” often lead to something special.

If nothing else, it sure brought a smile to my face and a skip to my step.

Music and sports have a way of doing that for me.

I hope that just happened for you, too.

 (Some build houses. Some build businesses. I love to build people. When I’m not in a gym, I’m behind a laptop learning how the best of the best grow, communicate, and flourish. Then I share those lessons. Want to connect? Email me here or call me at 412.849.4775. I’d love to hear your story.)