"Jack of All Trades"

Sport rewards both versatility and mastery. You may know the phrase, "jack of all trades, master of none." What's the origin?

From ChatGPT: 

The phrase "jack of all trades, master of none" has its origins in the late 16th century. It initially referred to someone who could do many things, a versatile individual. The "jack" in this phrase refers to the common man, as "Jack" was often used generically to represent an ordinary person.

The full phrase, which is less commonly cited today, is: "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." This version has a more positive connotation, highlighting that having broad skills can be more beneficial than specializing in just one thing. Over time, the latter part was dropped, and the saying became more critical of those who are generalists rather than specialists.

In modern usage, the shortened version tends to imply that someone who tries to do many things ends up excelling at none, though the original intent of the phrase was more balanced. 

It's seductive to 'anchor' on one recent performance, great or poor, when assessing an individual or team. Praise officiating and you'll find instances when counting to four goes awry. Criticize someone as overrated and they'll beat you that day. 

"Jack of all trades" praises generalists more than specialists. Few players excel at all skills enough to play "all around," never coming off the court. Two that do for Melrose are Leah Fowke, "the straw that stirs the drink," and Carol Higonenq. 

Leah could play any position on the court. She's that skilled and versatile.

Carol is second on the team in kills (141), fourth in service points (82), second in digs (125), and third in serve receives (127). She is first in smiles, by a healthy margin. She is the latter-day Jen Cain, high praise indeed. 

Lagniappe. OTIs... opportunities to improve. 

Lagniappe 2. It's never too late to grow your game.