Delusions of grandeur

I’ve been fired up, dare I say angry, since the Packers-Vikings game ended this weekend. I haven’t been able to shake it, so I’m going to write about it. Of course, I’m a die-hard Packers fan and would much rather see the Vikings lose football games than win them. So, after the Packers won in the Dome, it would make sense if I was overjoyed, but I wasn’t.

I’m tired of the antics that come from the Minnesota Vikings and it has nothing to do with my allegiance to the Green Bay Packers. I’m tired of them because they have a great effect on the people I see every day and, unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings organization currently represents the American people more than the tradition of excellence that comes from the organization in Green Bay. The Vikings have set their standards on mediocrity and they revel in it. They applaud and champion complacency, and it’s not right. The proof was in the pudding on Sunday when their head coach decided to punt the ball to the Packers (the most prolific offense in football) with three minutes left, down by 6 points, instead of going all in and trying to win. Result: another second half collapse and one more notch in the loss column. The Vikings simply don’t play to win. So, guess what? They don’t win.

I’m upset with all of this because a professional organization, in the country for which I happen to live, has no expectations of excellence. They don’t strive to win. They don’t care if they lose. Their delusions of grandeur are unacceptable and I’m not going to be silent about it anymore. In fact, I went on a ten minute rant to my athletes at practice on Sunday night about it. I’m sick and tired of the Minnesota Vikings organization because they don’t care about success and there are too many impressionable young people watching.

To further this point, they started a rookie quarterback who made a few decent throws and looked good (even great) at times, however, he ended the day 13-32 with 219 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (one of his completions was a surprise 79 yard pass on the first play of the game). He had an awful day as a quarterback, and lost the game, mind you, but the Vikings have found a way manipulate the truth to crown him the “next big thing” and the savior to their franchise. Why? Because he’s good looking? It’s pathetic and I can’t stand to see children and athletes that I work with buying this garbage. We have to have higher standards. If kids are going to look to professional athletes as role models, they need to see those professional athletes living standards of excellence.

I told my athletes that I expect excellence from them in every facet of their lives. We expect them to always do their best and be their best. I’m not interested in settling for mediocrity and have no intentions of not playing to win. I don’t care if they struggle in math or their teacher doesn’t like them, I expect them to be on the honor roll. If they’re going to be involved with what we’re doing, I expect them to treat others kindly and respect their parents and teachers. I expect them to follow rules and be an example to others. I expect their lives to exude excellence and force people to take notice; to stand out and be different and not settle for less than best or be complacent. The outcome is irrelevant if they play to win, leave it all on the field and go all in. Who they are today is important, but not as important as who they’re going to become. They need to expect to be “winners” – in life.

I’m tired of organizations, businesses, school districts, churches, and other groups of people championing mediocrity. I’m tired of the participation mindset that says everyone should feel good about themselves. I’m tired of parents accepting it from their children to preserve their self-esteem. I’m tired of coaches punting the ball to the best offense in the league when they have a chance to win and calling it a good day so they can crown their next hero. I’m tired of it and I won’t allow it in the lives of those who I work with…or those who read this blog.

The world desperately needs people who will stand up for what is good and right and strive for excellence in all areas of their life. Our organizations and businesses need leaders who have the courage to play to win while maintaining integrity.