First off, it was great to see Brees break Dan Marino’s long standing passing yard record. I think it’s a great achievement for Brees and long overdue. Most people don’t remember that he came within just 1 pass back in 2008. But he has patiently waited this long to have another shot at the record.
I think it’s not only good for Brees and his team, but good for all the fans and especially all the kids watching. This idea that it’s bad sportsmanship to go for a record and “run up the score” flat out disgusts me. These guys get paid millions of dollars to play a sport and score touchdowns. You wouldn’t ask your kid to just get B’s the last few weeks of school or not take a final test because they were blowing away the grade point averages in class… And you sure wouldn’t ask your top sales guy to “take easy” in the last few days of the quarter so the guys in 2nd and 3rd place wouldn’t be embarrassed would you? I seriously doubt it.
But for some reason, there’s an unwritten “code” of ethics in sports that says, “do your best as long as it doesn’t embarrass the other guy”. I think that’s just ridiculous and it sets a bad example for the next generation. The code should simply be, “do your best at all times”. Sportsmanship is not rubbing it in their face and being a gracious winner as well as respectful during and after the game. That consists of the way you talk about your team and others as well as your actions on the field or the way you talk to the other players during the game. Sportsmanship has everything to do with doing your best and winning.
So yes, I find it classy, refreshing, and a good example to the next generation for a team to rally around their leader and help him achieve a milestone that could be around for a long time. I also find it classy that their coach Sean Payton said, “let’s get the record”. It meant just as much to him as Brees and if you watched the team rally around Brees after the score, you know it meant a lot to them as well. It was a victory to all of them.
That last thing about this that burns me is that Atlanta didn’t have to give it to him and in fact, didn’t. They just got beat. If Atlanta didn’t want them to score, they should have stopped Brees. But they didn’t. So if you want to blame someone for running up the score, focus in on the Atlanta defense that couldn’t stop the Saints. After all, it was the Atlanta defense that DIDN’T do their job. The Saints were merely showing up for work and doing their best.
If you are a regular reader of my blog you may wonder what this has to do with business??? A lot actually. Teamwork, leadership, hard work, and doing your best at all times. All great lessons for any entrepreneur. But that’s a story for another day…





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