The title of this post may get me in trouble, but there’s a point behind it. In marriage conferences, I used to teach the difference in the way a man and a woman develop respect and love. Basically, for my purposes here, men can usually separate their respect for someone based on their abilities in a certain area.
So a man may be able to respect a businessman for his skills in business, even if that man is a lousy husband and father. For a woman, because she typically develops her respect as much from her heart as from what she knows about someone, if the businessman is a lousy husband, she will have a harder time respecting him professionally. (I realize that’s a generalized statement, but I’ve seen it many times. I may post more about that concept in the future.)
When it comes to football…I’m a girl…
- If a coach cheats on his wife…
- If a player is a poor role model…
- If a team is disrespectful to other teams…
I’m less likely to respect…and ultimately support…that team…
But…
- If a coach is a great man of character…
- If a player carries himself with class…
- If a team is professional even in losing…
That coach/player/team likely has me cheering for them when they play.
I know…it should just be about the game, my favorite team, etc., but I have a hard time separating the two. I see guys choose their “favorite” player who in my book is a poor role model for anyone, regardless of skills. My loyalty to a team usually fades if the coach has lousy character and grows if he is a man of good character, and likewise for a player. I may be able to admire the skills of the player, but I can not get behind them as a player if they can’t be a good role model. That’s why I’m such a Tim Tebow fan (watch THIS VIDEO I posted about him yesterday) and why I was always a Tony Dungy fan.
Go ahead. Make fun of me. Even call me a girl if you want. If your favorite coach or player is a jerk…like them…be loyal in spite of that fact…but I’ll be cheering on the other side.
Anyone else like me?
"I know…it should just be about the game, my favorite team, etc., but I have a hard time separating the two." I disagree with you here, Ron. It absolutely shouldn't be just about the game, and you're totally in the right to say that. I know that's the point of your whole post, but go ahead and own it – be proud that you judge the whole person, not just their ability to tackle, pass or coach. If that's girly, maybe that's one place we can learn from the girls.
Ha! Good take!
I like your twisted logic here, young lady.. 🙂 (kdding! I really shouldn't kid so soon after just meeting you…)
But anyway, yes, I am with you on this. I have a hard time admiring a "hero" when their personal character is in the gutter. I don't care how talented they are.
Ha! I am twisted in a lot of my logic 🙂 You'll learn that the more you hang around here.
There was a time in our history when we didn't have to be so vigilant about people, but our values have changed considerably. In the space of this week, we have 1 football player arrested for allegedly attempting to establish a drub distribution network and we have Tim Tebow on the other end of the spectrum. Is the football player who was arrested, vilified in the media; not that I've read, but Tim Tebow continues to garnish alot of "hate" sentimentality. The wonderful thing, though, is Tim Tebow knows who he answers to and it's not the public.
Good thoughts. thanks.
The truth is we are all human, boy or girl, man or woman. Although judging is not our job, it is how we form our OH!pinions of others. We all judge, although we say we don't. The simple act of forming an opinion is a work of personal judgement.
Now, judging what you said, yeah, you're a girl. Heh. J'est yanking your chain.
I agree and no longer follow sports except for what may be big news and is unavoidable.
It's hard enough to know that I judge (even though I don't think I DO) others by what is normal for most of us.
The disappointment and holes that are left by athletes can be truly devastating to those who love, admire and respect them. I cannot see setting myself up for that kind of situation. I did when I was younger, follow sports and was disappointed and hurt many times.
I'm not a girl anymore, I am a grown woman and I simply know better now. Idolizing men for what is called "talent" in a sport is (in my humble OH!pinion) not an activity to admire.
.02
Good thoughts.
Sports can be such a great example for business and for teams. In a recent meeting, we discussed college football National Champions and top programs – we talked about the qualities that made them great: talent, coaching, work ethic, teamwork, execution. Unfortunately, many of those programs had something else in common – investigations for rules violations or cheating. It does cause one to invest emotionally in the athletes, coaches and organizations that "do it the right way". You want to see them succeed.
Great analogy. I agree.
This is the approach I use for most people now. If a man has poor character nothing can really make up for it in my mind. I don't think this is because I think more like a girl. Which my wife can confirm. This even goes for voting. My fist two criteria are moral character and ability to lead everything else comes after that. So I get your point but I don't think it communicates well. 😉
Ha! I'm okay with that. More of a play on words than anything 🙂
Well, since I stand 6'8" 300+ pounds I'll leave the girl references alone, but I get your point. And, yes, I am with you! I am a die hard Eagle fan, but watching certain players, who I will not mention by name, act like children (or worse) does not mean that they get a free pass just because they are wearing the uniform!
And I'll leave you alone. 🙂
I'm like you, and I'm not a girl. My alma mater's team is riding into the BCS championship (LSU). But I cheered for Tim Tebow even when my team lost to his. And I'm still cheering for him now.
Thanks for the confirmation!
You may want to check your second statement in bold. I think it should say more likely to respect and support rather than less. I would say that I am the same way, I want to see good guys succeed.
No, it's correct, it follows those statements above. I inserted a transition word. That should help the confusion. Thanks for pointing out!
I agree with you entirely. Why wouldn't you respect character in a person whether they are a player or business man? I certainly appreciate the skills, whether they be professionally or athletically or other, that many folks possess but without character there is something wanting in a person.
Guess I am like a girl too when it comes to football…and maybe in life in general.
Thanks Paul. I see these “guys” get behind players who are not role models, have bad character, and seem to flaunt it. Can't buy that.
Twitter: kathyfannon
says:
I'm like you, but then again I'm a girl. That's why I'm such a big fan of guys like Greg Jennings, Larry Fitzgerald and Steven Jackson. And Tim Tebow. 🙂
Thanks…Got the girls on my side 🙂 Great names by the way!
Twitter: johnmarkharris
says:
Me too… but I really don’t like football all that much. I don’t like Ultimate Fighting and other blood sports. It’s just so violent (and I love action movies).
But there’s another reason, I see so many men who worship (yes, absolutely worship) football. They know all the players and all their stats, what rank all the teams are, who plays who, etc… then ask them the differences between the gospels or which they think was written first, or what they think Paul is combatting in Galatians and you get a “duh” look.
I see football trump church attendance too. It’s not that they would say church isn’t important, but football is obviously a bigger priority.
But that can be said for fishing, hunting, golf, vacations, work, kids sports, and a host of other things.
It just kinda turned my stomach to the point where I can’t enjoy them, at least not fully. Maybe I’m crazy, but God, and His Son’s body, the bride of Christ, should be a priority.
How many weeks of work do most people miss per year? How many weeks of corporate worship/fellowship do average people miss? Sad that we use Sunday as a good “travel day” because we sure can’t miss work, after all, that’s how we get money, we HAVE to work (i.e. church isn’t THAT important…)
Okay, sorry for the “rant” (I’m not really sorry)
Thanks for the rant. I share your feelings in so many ways.