This is NOT AN ARTICLE ABOUT SPORTS.
This week we were treated to life lessons for kids, and maybe for everyone else too.
The mighty advertising dollar has placed more and more great sports contests into prime time viewing.
Which means that your typical younger person never gets to enjoy some of the most competitive match ups in sports like from the World Series – where many games don’t even start until 8 PM Eastern and will last for at least 3 hours on a week night in October.
What a treat to have an NFL NFC Championship Game on during the day on a Sunday for everyone to watch including younger kids.
The game itself was competitive and this made it more interesting.
The incident – because it was more than a play – which had everyone speaking about took place near the end of regulation time in the game – 1:49 left on the clock to be exact.
For those who do not know what happened – with the score ties at 20 – 20 – Drew Brees the Quarterback of the New Orleans Saints was facing a 3rd Down and 10 yards to go from the Rams 13 yard line. Brees dropped back and threw a pass to Tommy Lee Lewis. Nickell Robey-Coleman of the Rams obliterated Lewis well before the arrival of the ball on a play that screamed pass interference.
As a matter of fact, there really wasn’t anyone who didn’t think it was pass interference.
The 73,028 fans in attendance all thought it was pass interference. Saints coach Sean Payton thought it was pass interference. Unfortunately for the Saints, the only people alive who didn’t think the play warranted a pass interference penalty were the seven people who mattered: The seven officials on the field.
There were actually a few younger children who watched this incident (the play in the game) and they said – “That’s just like what happens to us!” “The refs stink!” “This is the Pros” “How can it be, how do they get wrong in the Pros too!”
Here is the learning moment – the life lesson – often times in life things happen, and it is not fair. Sorry, everyone does not get a trophy.
When Everyone Is Special – No One Is
What has happened to our youth sports programs – our schools – our homes – where these basic life lessons are no longer taught. Fine – watch the clip of this moment then in this game and discuss it with your team – your class – your kids. The entire New Orleans Saints organization, it’s players and the fans clearly had the game and the opportunity to appear in the Super Bowl – taken from them by the refs on the field at that moment.
Sometimes you just need to talk to a four year old and an 84 year old to understand life again.
– Kristen Butler
On Wednesday, Serena Williams was knocked out of Australian Open by Karolina Pliskova after leading 5-1 and holding four match points. It would have been easy for the number 7 seeded Karolina to give up.
Going into the match she was certainly the underdog going up against Serena. Instead Karolina played as well as she could on this day. She never gave up. The result was she hung in there long enough to have the opportunity to win.
This is the learning moment – the life lesson – believe in yourself and your abilities. Always do your best and never give up.
Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.
– Winston Churchill
Now it is true these are both examples from the world of sports and there are many people who would discount any teaching or learning from the world of sports. I totally disagree. We do not have to hero worship. However, the competition, preparation along with the mental and physical aspects are all perfect for utilizing as examples for all of us. In addition the teamwork it takes to work together and for the individual sports to keep themselves together all make for excellent teaching moments.
Always remember that your present situation is not your final destination. The best is yet to come.
In closing – utilize the examples that are happening right now to teach life lessons to our youth. When they witness the ups and the downs on the field of competition they will have a better understanding and appreciation of what life is really about.
When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. When life is bitter, say thank you and grow.
Mitch Tublin is the CEO and Founder of Wenkroy International LLC a boutique consulting company with a main focus on Strategic Business Consulting, Training and Business Coaching. Our passion is to take people to the next level in their life and in their business. Are you interested in having Mitch speak at your company or event – click here?
