Way To Go Candace Parker!

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When Pride Gets in the Way

I’m troubled by what’s happening between Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Having grown up in Wisconsin, I’m an old die hard Packers fan and Brett is at the top of that list, but enough is enough.

Like a child crying wolf I’ve grown tired of him dragging out his retirement the last few years and changing his mind even though he says he was pressured into the decision by the Packers this time.

As in the case of Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice, the same pride and passion that made him great is now the force that refuses to let him face reality.

As a superstar he became accustomed to the football world, especially in Green Bay, circulating around him. As real and unaffected as he tried to be, it seeped in through all the royal treatment through the years. He became bigger than life, but it eventually got to the point that reality no longer existed and preferential treatment became an expected way of life.

It shattered his ego that the head coach of the Packers told him that they were moving on. How could they possibly think of being successful without him and didn’t he have every right to wait as long as he wanted to make a decision and then change his mind? Now his bruised ego has gotten to the point that he talks about walking on at the Packers training camp, forcing their hand in making a decision on his status.

I know he loves the game and hates to give it up, but pride has eaten him up.

Reality is that every single football player has to quit at some point. Others with the same prideful issues dragged it on too long and it became painful to watch, but that’s the reality of life not only sports. In life, corporations make the same decisions with long time, valued employees and it’s not easy to accept.

I know, I’ve been there and gone through that. Brett Favre will as well even though he won’t enjoy it.

Pride is a powerful motivator but can also be a devastating enemy.

Albert Pujols: A Superstar With a Big Heart

I’ve become a huge fan of Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals. I’ve always respected and appreciated his baseball talent, but it’s the person who impresses me even more now.

Pujols heard about a young pitcher at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee who was killed when his pickup truck was hit by a dump truck on July 5th, 2007. In his wallet they found an article on Pujols where he talked about the importance of his faith. Word got to Pujols who established a relationship with the boy’s parents and that eventually led to an invitation for the team to come to Busch Stadium to meet Pujols and watch a game.

They did on June 30th of 2008. They watched batting practice and were given a guided tour of the lockerroom by Pujols. He even gave each player an autographed batting glove and arranged for them to watch the game from the owners suite.

The players talked about him looking them each straight in the eye and asking them if they were living their lives the right way, challenging them to be men of character. They will never forget that day. Pujols used his celebrity status to help heal a terrible wound.

True greatness means that you use you talent and success to make a difference in someone elses life.

It’s the same principle as coaching.