When Someone is LARGER Than Life Or…

… LARGER than the company or the league or the sport he is part of, and that same person retires or moves on or passes away, chances are the entity he leads or represents might go a-tumbling down the hill.

We have seen cases of such happening. In sports, when Michael Jordan first retired in 1993, the NBA took a nose dive in fan interest. Many were bored to death with the NBA Finals in 1994 (Rockets vs. Knicks) and in 1995 (Rockets vs. Magic). I believe that part of the reason why Jordan came back was because David Stern and the NBA asked him to. MJ had grown larger than the NBA at that time and his early departure from the game left practically everyone on this planet hanging in mid-air like his Airness. Jordan made another retirement in 1998 after getting his 6th championship ring. Again, a rather premature exit as the NBA was not TOTALLY ready. David Stern might have a hand again in luring him back, this time as a Wizard, to orchestrate a smoother transition which involved, apart from strengthening the image of a re-branded franchise (Washington Bullets to Washington Wizards) in DC, the careful selection of a new crop of worthy torch bearers for the NBA (think Shaq, Kobe, Garnett, T-Mac, VC, etc.).

Locally, the icon of Philippine professional basketball, Robert “The Big J” Jaworski, became, and aptly so, bigger than the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He eventually retired way past the age of 40 after serving time as player-coach in his twilight years for one of the most, if not, the most popular basketball franchise in the country. His charisma was unparalleled and Jaworski successfully polarized the fan base, separating the pro-Jawo from the anti-Jawo. When he did, finally, retire, much of the 2 generations that adored or disliked him relatively lost rabid and fanatic interest in the PBA. The league suffered a dip in TV ratings for some time, which, also, eventually led to the demise of the outfit that became synonymous with the PBA in its heyday, Vintage Sports.

Tiger Woods has already achieved this in the world of golf. His emergence in the sport and subsequent domination has attracted legions of new golfers. I distinctly remember the golfing boom he created here in the Philippines, back in the mid-90’s, as I was one of those who got swept away by the tidal force of Woods’ ascendancy in golf. Many pundits of the sports are actually hoping that someone from the present crop of players step up and challenge Woods’ supremacy so as to set in place rivalries of the kind that Palmer and Nicklaus, Palmer and Player, Nicklaus and Kite gave us in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. Unfortunately, none has done so quite consistently and convincingly. The PGA may yet experience the same phenomenon once the Phenom retires. Luckily, Tiger started quite early and won’t be retiring any sooner.

In business, Jack Welch of General Electric came so dangerously close to taking the whole future of GE with him once he retired if not for the company’s well-thought out succession plan and program that Reginald Jones (also a legendary CEO in his own right), GE’s leader previous to Welch, crafted and implemented. The run up to Welch’s choosing of his heir, Jeff Immelt, and the ensuing handing off to Immelt, were seamlessly effected.

Now, another iconic personality may come dangerously close to taking the whole future of his company along with him once he… gulp… passes away or is forced to retire due to health problem.

This CEO is none other than Mr. Apple himself, the God of the iPod… Mr. Steve Jobs.

Rumors have been swirling around ever since he took center stage during the launch of the new iPhones. His gaunt, sickly appearance made quite a quiet stir among observers. And as of the moment, speculation upon speculation are being thrown around.

I just hope that this is not true.

I wish you well Steve Jobs.

Knightly News

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