Caspar David Friedrich, Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog, the classic romantic loaner. Don't tell him there's no I in Win.

Just now a piece of very well meaning email, as if that’s even possible, reminded me that:

There is no “i ” in Team.

As if that actually lent credibility to and argument about cooperation versus individual effort.

I’ve always wanted a coach to actually pull that chestnut out of the fire and hold it, smoking and reeking of brimstone, under my nose. Because I’ve always wanted the chance to point out that:

There may not be an “I” in Team, but with a little work you can spell “Me,” and besides, if you’re looking for an “I,” there’s a big fat on right in the middle of win.

And remember, Heinlein said in “Starship Troopers,”

… for the man working alone, moves that take advantage of his own mobility and of the superior co-ordination of one man as compared with two — Sergeant Zim says (correctly) that any group is weaker than a man alone unless they are perfectly trained to work together...

Of course, I’m no one to talk, having spent my entire professional life trying to get people to work in teams.

And though they may be messier more poorly coordinated than Sergeant Zim on his own, with just a little organizing, you’ll find they can have some pretty good “mates” in them, which is certainly worth something. Something even a thick headed dwarf could accept.

Gimli: Never thought I’d die fighting side by side with an Elf.
Legolas: What about side by side with a friend?
Gimli: Aye. I could do that.

 And that takes teamwork.