EGO IS THE ENEMY
A BOOK REVIEW
I recently attended the Local Chamber of Commerce luncheon where Tony Vitello, the head coach of the University of Tennessee baseball team, was the featured speaker. Vitello is a highly successful coach who has been in his position at Tennessee since 2017. At UT, he has been selected as a two-time National Coach of the Year. His 2022 team was the SEC Champion while his 2021 and 2023 teams reached the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Also, during the past six seasons, 35 former UT players have been selected in the MLB draft. Coach Vitello provided an interesting insight into teamwork and the motivation and molding of individuals into a successful team. As in many sports, as young people grow, mature, and refine their skills, the number who enjoy success and advance up the ranks through college and on to the professional level is very small. Most of these athletes come from the high school ranks where their abilities made them the big man on campus and where their peers, in many cases, looked up to them and watched as, in some cases, their egos grew accordingly. Vitello expressed to the people in attendance that in the locker room and on the field, it was the teams that could work together and check their egos at the door that seemed to be the ones that enjoyed the most success. Camaraderie and support of each other, as well as learning to play and have fun together while respecting one another, are important parts of teamwork. During his comments, Coach Vitello spoke about a book that was suggested to him. The book is titled, Ego Is the Enemy , by Ryan Holiday, which, in his opinion, was a good reference source that also provided insight into dealing with and understanding not only himself but his players and others alike. As someone who enjoys reading and learning new things, following the luncheon I went online and ordered a copy of the book from Amazon. From start to finish it is a very easy read, filled with a ton of insight into the human ego. In the book, you will find many lessons to help you master success in life that many people with an insatiable ego find difficult to navigate. In today’s world where everyone wants instant success, the book helps us understand that real success comes from the journey and lessons learned along the long and winding road of life. In life and in competition, we have all met or know someone who displays that obnoxious type of high ego whereby their self-promotion and declaration of superiority can be offensive to their peers and fellow competitors. All of us who compete in our sport at any level or discipline have some form of ego in our desire to succeed and accomplish our goals.
BY WALTER SOMMERFELT
78 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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