Judged By Your Words

The Superbowl game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears shattered a myth.

Alot was made of the fact that there were two black head coaches in the game, Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. Ultimately Dungy became the first black head coach to win a Superbowl game. But to me it was even more significant and telling that both men were men of faith and neither one swore. That last part may be a small matter, but not to me. I've known plenty of coaches at all level, who use the English language and beyond like a salty sailor. You just can't get your point across unless you use words that would make a skunk turn tail and run, preferably in groups of three. There's one coach that I know who's told me that he doesn't cuss except on the football field, and there it shoots out like a volcano at the slightest mistake.

Now please tell me how you can turn it on and off whenever you want  Especially when it's a part of who you are. So in other words, we act one way in church and around women and children and another way around big tough football players. Unless of course you lose your temper. Then it's "just the way I am". I know a former NFL player who ultimately had his career shortened because he wouldn't bark back at a coach who'd made a habit of dog cussing him. The coach called him soft and eased him out of the lineup and eventually out of the league.

Vanderbilt football coach Bobby Johnson doesn't allow swearing on his football team and that includes his coaches. That means the he has to live up to that same standard. He's tough and straight forward without all the trashy language.  All of life is a lesson in self discipline. We expect it of athletes on the field, why can't we do the same with our mouths. The simple fact is that there is always somebody listening, and often that's a child. It's a lot easier to work at being the same person on and off the field than it is to spend your time making excuses for your behavior or worse, not giving a flip who hears it.

I marveled at the way both Lovie and Tony conducted themselves. They put their business in the street. Declared where they stood on their faith and then walked the walk, willing to be judged by the men they led and millions watching on TV. That's what I call men of character.

Comments

[Don Inglish]

I didn't like Madden as a coach, because of his ranting and raving on the sidelines. It wasn't good for the children to see.
I did like him as a commentator, he brought something extra to the game.