The Hard Hat: 21 Ways to Be a Great Teammate

Chapter 1621: A Way of LifeNarrated by Rob Pannell

When working out, instead of doing 15 or 20 reps, I do 21. Instead of running 15- or 20-second sprints, I run 21-second sprints. Instead of running on the treadmill for 15 minutes, I run for 15 minutes and 21 seconds. Every time I have the opportunity to see the number 21, I take it. Every time I see the number 21, I think of George Boiardi. For me, 21 is not a number—it's a way of life.

If I could meet two people in the world, I would choose George Boiardi and Eamon McEneaney (who wore number 10 on his jersey). Eamon was another Cornell lacrosse legend; he died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Believe it or not, growing up I wore three numbers in sports: 10, 21, and 3. The number 3, my number at Cornell, doesn't belong in the same sentence as 10 and 21, but I could not have been in a more fitting situation than playing for the Cornell lacrosse program, where those numbers carry such enormous weight and tremendous honor. Unfortunately, I never met George, but I feel as if he has been a teammate and leader to me during my five years at Cornell and is now a friend helping me through my everyday life.

Rarely does a day go by when I don't see the clock strike 10:21. That's no coincidence; it's just George and Eamon checking in. I will never forget scoring to put Cornell up 1–0 in the 2013 semifinal against Duke. The ...