Someone Else’s Greatness

This week I drove back to my hometown of Detroit Lakes. As I drove through town, I noticed they’re rebuilding the old baseball stadium where I played countless games growing up.

Just seeing it brought back one memory.

I was pitching against Thief River Falls on a warm spring evening. It was one of those nights when the ballpark just felt alive. As I took the mound, I felt ready.

Until their third hitter stepped in.

I threw what I thought was a decent fastball. He absolutely crushed it. Not just over the fence. Out of the park.

Their fans erupted. Our hometown crowd let out one of those collective “Whoa...” groans.

The very next hitter stepped in.

And then it happened again.

Another ball launched into the night sky.

I watched it disappear and said, louder than I realized:

“Are you kidding me? Just stop it.”

Everyone laughed.

As he rounded third and headed toward home, I pointed at him. Not out of frustration. Out of respect.

He’d earned it.

He smiled, pointed back, and jogged toward his teammates waiting at home plate.

It lasted maybe two seconds.

But I’ve never forgotten it.

The game still mattered. We were still competing. I still wanted to win.

But the edge softened.

The handshake line afterward felt different.

More smiles. More shoulder taps. More respect.

I’ve thought about that moment a lot over the years. Not because I gave up back-to-back home runs. But because it taught me something I’ve tried to carry into the rest of my life:

Celebrating someone else’s greatness never diminishes your own.

Maybe that’s part of why I started STROSHO.

Not just to make apparel, but to build something that celebrates character, discipline, respect, and encouragement.

That’s the kind of brand I hope STROSHO becomes.

So here’s my challenge this week.

Look for one opportunity to recognize greatness in someone else. Not vague encouragement. Not a quick “nice job.” Something specific. Something true. Something they may not even see in themselves yet.

Maybe it’s your spouse. Your son or daughter. A friend. A coworker. Or even a stranger.

Someone in your life may be waiting for someone to notice...

and says it out loud.

Tell them.

You never know.

The words someone remembers forty years from now…

…might be yours.

Brent