Who A Caveman Looks Up To

Lately I have been putting a lot of thought into, what makes people tick? Or, more accurately, what makes them great? In no particular order, here are 5 people that I look to when I envision greatness:

Aleksandr Karelin: A 6'4", 289 pound, Greco-Roman Wrestler. He was a four time Olympian, went undefeated in international competition for 13 years, is a PhD, and is highly active in politics. My favorite quote from Mr. Karelin (paraphrased of course) is, "I train every day of my life as they have never trained a day in theirs". (His response to criticism regarding his personal accomplishments). Aleksandr's words embody what it means to really work hard.

Abraham Lincoln: Did you know that President Lincoln was an accomplished wrestler? He was also a man of strong godly character and depth. There is not a singular quote from President Lincoln that stands out in my mind, but rather a metal measuring stick that I use when I wonder what a real man would do in any given circumstance. Regardless of what problems we encounter, Abraham showed me that strong men look to God for guidance.

Rickson Gracie: The most divisional character in all of martial arts and the alpha of the Gracie family. Rickson is not only a fantastic grappler, but a very high level yoga practitioner. Before stepping in the ring for what was the pinnacle of Vale Tudo tournaments in 1995, Rickson looked me right in the eye (I was watching on TV), and said, "I am feeling scared. It is normal to feel afraid. If you don't feel fear then you are stupid." Rickson taught me that weak men hide their weaknesses, while real men acknowledge them.

Chael Sonnen: Divisional MMA personality and UFC Middleweight contender, Chael is fun to listen to. He is in the pay per view business and nobody does that better. However, he is also a red-blooded American, and an example of what men should be today. When asked about growing up wrestling (Chael was an Olympic wrestling alternate) he stated, "I never looked forward to wrestling practice. Wrestling is hard, not fun. But good things don't come from having fun. They come from hard work and dedication." Again I paraphrased, but that statement says a lot.

Lisa Renee Miller Moore: Mother of three boys and my girl. Lisa is the least selfish person I have ever encountered, from any time period. There are often times when I start to feel slighted in life, and that's when I think of Lisa. Regardless of what she encounters, her feelings always seem to matter less to her than those of others. It takes incredible inner strength to push aside "I" feelings, even under normal circumstances. Lisa does it consistently, under even the worst circumstances. Lisa taught me to look beyond myself. And in doing so she also taught me what it means to really live.