Whatever Happened to "May the Best Team Win"?

As Super Bowl 44 XLIV approaches, I'm finding it fascinating listening to people picking sides.

The truth is that neither the Saints nor the Colts have much of fan base outside their regional areas.  Sure, there are fans of each team all over the world, but not large pockets of Super Fans like you have for teams like Dallas or New England.

But we Americans like choosing sides.  It's part of the game.  I have more than one relative that will intentionally pick the team that is the least popular in the room if for no other reason than to antagonize everyone else.  I respect that.

I love to hear people argue which defense is better, is Payton Manning overrated and Drew Brees underrated, who's got the better offensive line (that one, to me, is the mark of those who really understand the game:  if your O-line is awful, it doesn't matter who you have behind them; if you don't believe me, go back and watch the Saints-Vikings game again).

But I've got no tolerance for the "Saints should win because of Hurricane Katrina" argument.

The time for sympathizing with those that have endured disaster is at that moment (in this case over 4 1/2 years ago); the moment to give aid is constant.   But to say that one city is more deserving of a sports victory because of the public pain they've endured is to all at once minimize any pain felt in the other town and to add undo emphasis to what, as great as it may be, is just a game.

Does anyone truly think that Indianapolis and her citizens are without trial and difficulty?  Anyone look at the economy lately?

California is bankrupt and flooding, and no one made the case that the Chargers should be favored over the Jets.  Green Bay is the only team not carrying any debt, and no one argued that their financial Good Sense entitled them to a win over Arizona.

If you have a favorite team, root for that.  If you don't care that much about either team, and can't find a football related reason to justify whom you pick, and you don't have an uncle you want to tweak because he's a huge fan of XYZ team, then at least have the Sports Decency to say "May the Better Team Win".

May the referring be honest.  May the players be free from serious injury.  May each individual do his best.

In business we see so many entities use laws or the government to give themselves an unsportsman-like advantage over the competition.  We the consumer lose when some board (typically made up of the "competition") shuts down a legitimate business, claiming it's for the public welfare or safety, rather than they themselves becoming better at what they do.

Dentists shutting down cosmetologists that do teeth whitening . . . architects clamping down on drafting shops . . . lawyers afraid of legal counseling services . . . banks and automakers that turn to government for bailouts because they made horrific business decisions . . .

I say:  May the Best Team Win.

The Next Level

You'll hear that buzz-phrase throughout the college bowl games: "the Next Level".



For a standout collegate athlete the question of lengthening their athletic career inevitably comes up. While the NCAA will be running commercials this bowl season pointing to the academic achievements of student athletes (as well they should), the commentators and fans will be talking about which stars are ready to go pro.

How and when a young athlete decides to make the jump is a lesson in "Supply and Demand Economics"; if no one is shopping for candidates in your position, better to stay in school; but for the guy who's in demand, it is a much better financial decission to enter the draft and finish school later.

I do admire those that are dedicated to finishing their scholastic careers, but with the possibility of injuries (particularly in football) and today's economic uncertainty, I say strike while the gridiron's hot!

San Francisco 49'er Steve Young finished his Law Degree in-between NFL seasons. While I'm sure that wasn't easy, the point is that it can be done. Don't enter college expecting to go pro, but don't pass up professional football money expecting to do well as a high school coach. Some opportunities don't knock twice, a pro career is one of those, a college education is not.

Those of us who will be safely left out of the draft this year can still think about going to "the next level". Whatever our chosen profession, regardless of our age or current qualifications, we can always improve our stature and standing by continuing our education long after we've graduated.

Get a new certification, learn that new system, read books written by experts in your field. The best way to keep your job secure is to become the Most Valuable Player on the team.

Momentum

Heading into next week's wild card games, and the talk is already of Momentum.

San Diego has won their last four; they'll be facing Indianapolis and their nine game winning streak - should be a great game!

In sports, momentum is the magic that explains why a team can be more than the sum total of it's players, whether within a single game or from this week to the next.

BYU should not have lost to Arizona, but take several weeks off after a big loss and you've got an uphill battle that even the best teams struggle to overcome.

A team that goes into a game on a winning streak has a confidence that even the best coach can't create.

Last weekend, son number three made the observation that his brother drawing a bye in the first round of a high school wrestling tournament could be the kiss of death. Why?

"Because in the second round he'll be going in cold while the guy he's wrestling just had a winning experience. He'll be loose and confident while my brother will be tight. I'd rather wrestle an extra match than sit for three hours, fighting to stay focused".

The same principle holds for our current economic woes: few companies seem to have the momentum that they did just a few short months ago. Retailers are going out of business, few companies seem to be hiring, and everyone is sitting around waiting for things to magically get better. It doesn't matter if it's fear or fact that has killed the momentum, the question is: what can we, The Coaches, do to infuse our businesses with momentum?

We've got to build morale; rally the troops. Don't sit around waiting for customers to come in, go out and get them! Call that client that's hesitant and give them an infusion of honest encouragement. Run an ad, let people know that you're still out there and you've come to play!

This is what “Diem perséquere!" is all about; don't wait for something to come by so you can "sieze" it, persue it, hunt it down, make it happen!