Branded Teamwork

As preseason NFL football winds down and the real tests soon begin, we look at some of history's great teams—each one of them united in cause and vision. the term, "teamwork" is defined differently depending on who is writing the definition. But no matter how you slice it, most agree it includes communication, coordination, effort, and most importantly—cohesion. Without some sort of binder, the individual ingredients are free radicals, to use a chemical term.  Yet as any former or serving military will tell you, once a bond is set ... the team is not only tight and effective—it's lethal.

 Read, enjoy, and learn...

• Spartans are Beast: If you want a lesson in teamwork, then the Spartans should be on the coaching staff. Just 300 Spartans held off Persia's King Xerxes and his massive army for three days. Yeah, there were Greek brethren there too, but they scattered quickly. The Spartans stood their ground and gave the Persians a sound spanking before being overrun.

• Red Tails: These guys are top of the list for Team Brands from World War II. Otherwise known as the Tuskegee Airmen, the all black squadron earned—underscore—earned an impressive service record. Not only did these guys kick Hitler's butt all over the skies of Nazi-occupied Italy, they kicked down the doors of racism within the American Army Air Corps, paving the way for the Civil Rights movement of the 60s. We're talkin' airtight cohesion.

• Eye of the Tiger: One of the wildest Team Brands from World War II, and highly effective to Tojo's chagrin, were the Flying Tigers. These were hard living, fast flying, ruthless-in-the-skies pilots and ground crew that made Japanese think twice. On the ground, in a "relaxed" state, they were the definition of free radicals. But in the air and on a mission, they were a solid steel unit.

• Samurai jacked: These are Japan's ancient warrior class. On arrival to the battlefield, they'd scare the Zen out of their opponents. All samurai lived and died by the Bushido—a code that bound them together in ferocity, devotion to duty and master, and an "all-in" willingness to die in battle. It just makes you want to see a match-up on Deadliest Warrior between 300 samurai and 300 Spartans.