As I write, I'm sitting in Orlando, Florida, a long way from my home in western Massachusetts, listening to morning talk radio. I always thought of Florida as that warm, sunny place in the south where oranges grow and northerners move to when they are tired of the snow and cold. The home of northern transplants. As we are less than two weeks away from the next Super Bowl game, I'd say, there are few fans and supporters of the New England Patriots around here. Wow! Anybody but New England.
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| Tom Brady, New England Patriots |
I guess that is what happens when you are part of what might be referred to as a professional football dynasty. What is this, the 7th time Brady and the Patriots are making a trip to the big show in recent football history? Only the 2nd time in franchise history for the Atlanta Falcons, seeking their first ever NFL title. Nevertheless, the talk on the radio was not about the Falcons, it was all about the hate of Brady and the Patriots. Why?
Why don't we celebrate those who are the best at what they do rather than knock down the very elitist of the bunch? Whether it be sports, business or just friends? Most who read this will not know who Robert Griffin III or Mike Smith are, or, how about one of my personal friends, Bjorn Aberg? You probably don't know them, but they are, or were, a few the very best athletes in the world, buy you've never heard of them. Why? because we only focus on the very, very best and many work to knock those few down. Why? I don't know, I don't get it and in my opinion, that's pretty stupid. I guess because they are the money guys and they are better than your home town heroes.
Come on folks, it's a game. Granted a big money game for the investors and owners, but it is still a game that is meant to entertain, not cause hate and discontent. Celebrate their greatness. Celebrate their abilities. Learn to copy the work ethic of most of them and be the best you can be, at what ever it is you do.
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Bjorn Aberg
1992 Albertville Olympics |
By the way, Robert Griffin III is an elite NFL football quarterback. One of the best in the world, calling the plays for the Cleveland Browns for most of the 2016 season. True, as a team, they didn't have a great year, but who else do you know that is good enough to be in the top 32 quarterback in the world to lead an NFL team? As a goalie parent, I know well how fans feel about hockey goalies. When a goal is scored, it's likely the goalies fault... NOT necessarily. Mike Smith is a goalie with the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey league. Mike minds the net for the team with the worst record in the 30 team NHL... As a team that are struggling badly, but Smith has a very respectable .915 save percentage and has won his last 2 games in net for Arizona, he's one of the best goalies in the world. My friend Bjorn, who I worked with before I retired from Evergreen, Colorado, was one of 47 skiers in the world who qualified for and skied in the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France for Team Sweden. Should be enough said, that when you are one of only 47 people in the world good enough to ski in the Olympics, enough said. Bjorn qualified for the gold medal round by placing 10th in the trials. He told me, if you are not #1 or #2, it's just like doing a job you love.... All the money is being #1 or #2.... despite his falling in the second run for the gold medal and finishing 16th overall.... Bjorn is a #1 class act guy in my book, he was good enough to be there. Love your team and your heroes for their abilities.
If we were only that good. What if we just set out to praise expertise and encourage those trying. Cheer when our teams wins, shake hands as good sports when they don't.
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