Where is Discipline in Sports?

Well it seems astounding to me that a college football star at a nationally ranked school would break into someone else's home to steal something....what, a laptop, I think? You just have to think, "What the...?". Here these guys have almost anything that the average guy could want. Why, when you're in their position, you already know the money is going to be there, the popularity is on tap like water from a firehose, and then there's the admiration of every guy who doesn't have the physical capabilities, the size or both to play collegiate D1 football.

I guess it's just me but I was raised to think if I was ever in that position it is my job to be a leader. To show others the right way to behave, how to bring a new guy into the fold and help him develop his ability to contribute, or when to stand up because ladies had entered the room. I guess I'm pretty old-fashioned about those things. But, you know, it's funny, year after year, decade after decade (and I've seen my share at this point), I see society ignore those things to its peril. And then come back to them because they realize it's a better way.

I have 6 sons and 4 daughters (yes, you read that right...and one fabulous wife that gave birth to each and every one of them). I was a little slow on the uptake and what with the daughters being among the older children, I did not get them involved in sports quite as much as the boys. I regret that but I'll have to address it in another article. The youngest daughter is proving to be quite the natural athlete so we don't know what we missed with the others.

Anyway, back to the boys, all very athletic in their own ways. We've enjoyed our share of football championships and some very successful rugby seasons. Two of our sons have been named Player of the Year in their youth clubs. Our second oldest just finished a season racking up rushing yardage that placed him 3rd in the state among all high school running backs. Another son ran a 40-yard dash that placed him in the top 3 for the local high school varsity football team. Yet he was a rising freshman.

OK, so we know something about being athletic at our house. And I've always taught the boys to leave nothing on the field. You support your team and you give it your all to win. But here's where the story is different for us, our philosophy is this, God gave them the talent they have. Oh, sure, it's their's to work on now and refine; but God gave them the talent. And, yes, I love watching them make the big hit, pick off a pass, run for a long gain or make a key block. I'd be lying to you to tell you anything different. But I'm more thankful than I am proud; thankful for their God-given abilities. The times that I could not be any more proud of them are the times when I know they've made choices that require character. When they walk away from a fight. When they befriend the kid on the team that nobody else likes. When they seek out someone in the cafeteria that has to sit by him or herself. Or when they take a stand for their faith and the things we believe in. That's when I'm really proud. I'm proud because that's something they can pass along to anyone, athletic or not.

Not everyone will be able to perform like the elite athlete. But everyone can make quality character choices. And besides, every superior athlete is just one hit or one germ away from it all being over. If your popularity, self-esteem, and significance only go as deep as your last performance, well, it's a sad world. But anyone and everyone can make quality character choices any moment of any day.

OK, let's get back to that football star at a nationally ranked college. What is wrong with Jeremiah Masoli? I mean, being a Heisman Trophy candidate is not good enough? Not to mention all of the other perks that will come with it? And LaMichael James, what was in his head? Anything? These guys could simply ask for a new laptop, and I'll absolutely, positively, double-dog-dare-ya guarantee that someone would have gotten them one each, and yesterday! "Here guys, I was stopping off at Chipotle's anyway, so I brought you lunch while I was delivering your new computers. What?! Go on, you kidding? No big deal! Happy to do it!"

Here's where you can read more about this story: http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/24557122-41/james-masoli-kelly-court-gardner.csp. (By the way, take notice that the "little-used reserve, Garrett Embry...was booted off the team". I don't know, maybe it's me but I'm wondering if justice is blind in this case or if she has one eye open under that blindfold of hers. The expendable guy guilty of theft is booted; the irreplaceable guys are, well, irreplaceable. I mean, what would happen to the team?)

Is there a serious disciplinary gap here? Well, the writer of this article thinks so.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-11-09/what-we-learned-blounts-reinstatement-proves-college-footballs-h He believes LeGarrette Blount should have missed the entire season as his coach said he would. But instead, Blount gets the ring and all the other good stuff that goes with a bowl game. "He needed us..." more than the team needed him, we have been told. Uh-huh.

But the blogger in the following entry thinks it was right for the coach to go back on his word and reinstate Blount:

http://blog.oregonlive.com/ducks/2009/10/blounts_reinstatement_thoughts.html. Sad that these troubled young men have so much difficulty finding someone that can give them the security of knowing, without question, where the boundaries are and that those boundaries are not going to be moving around.

Maybe this largely comes down to the coach understanding the value of true discipline and placing a little higher value on quality of character. Remember, character is not formed by adversity, it is exposed by it. Had Chip Kelly, Blount's, Masoli's, James' and Embry's head coach, called me about it (sure, that's going to happen), I could have told him, "Think it over good and hard, Chip. Tell the boys, 'Judgment day is coming, fellas, count on that.' Then take your time and decide what you're willing to enforce without qualm. Once you've decided, then tell them....and don't go back on it. You've got to post the landmark and the whole team has to see where that landmark is. They'll respect you, Coach. And they'll love you for it." It's sad to say it, but I think Masoli and company saw that, if they were good enough, they could do what they want, miss a few weeks, still work out with the team and not miss the playoffs or their potential NFL careers. Can anyone say dysfunctional?

I think I'm going to stick with stuff that a lot of younger coaches tell me is unimportant anymore. Stuff like "When coach says, 'Take a knee', it doesn't mean stand around if you want, it means 'take a knee' ". Or other favorites of mine like "anytime you take a knee, your helmet goes on your right hand side, facing forward. No exceptions."

Come on guys, let's look like a team out there. And let's have the character to be part of something bigger than ourselves. Preparation now with an eye toward the future will produce some remarkable results in our young athletes. I'm putting in the effort now; these people will be running the world when I get old.