“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.” –Jackie Robinson

Jackie knew. Achieving greatness can be a singular pursuit, but to pass that greatness down is what it’s all about. To actively fill hearts of those around with a sense belief, conviction, and the limitless idea of possibilities – this is where the transfer of greatness begins.

Jackie changed the course of history on and off the baseball field, but he helped more kids in his time than we’ll ever know. He showed them that there are things worth fighting for. Believing in. Working hard to get.

This month, with March Madness set to go down and the anniversary of the Fight of the Century, Roots of Fight is celebrating “greatness passed down” with our drops, zeroing in on those icons who made it their duty to do just that. People like the great Maradona, who once played - against his coaches wishes - in a village charity game in the middle of the season to save a sick child’s life while with Napoli. He made himself a legend on the soccer field, yet the greatness he passed down made him a hero.

Same as with Bruce Lee, who mentored students in the ways of Jun Fan Gung Fu from the time he was at University at Washington until the end. Or David Bowie, who mentored other musicians throughout his extraordinary life, inspiring the youth ‑ as directly as he could - to unlock the magic of self-expression.

Greatness is a baton to be passed down through the ages, and those who sought to hand it off deserve a salute!

And as we enter the month of March, in the words of Muhammad Ali, “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” These are words worth passing along.

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