Following USC’s loss on Saturday,
millionsof Facebook statuses wrote
quarterback Aaron Corp is a deadman.
Hmmm. Millionsof death threats for losing a game?
What have we become.
And …
Get a life!
As if a young athlete these days doesnt
have enough pressure on them from the media
and their coaches. Then they receive this kind of feedback.
Let me let you in on something.
If your happiness rides on a college football
game week in and week out - you may
as well pack it in. Again, get a life.
As a young man growing up I heard
what all my idols did after a loss.
The great Jack Lambert after losing a game
hid in an old broom closet and wept like
a little child. Only to be found by the equipment manage
2 hours after everyone had left the locker room.
My coach Gary Blackney shared a Chris Spielman story
that was something similar.
True champions hate to lose. And yes, losing does
happen every now and again.
My daughters soccer team lost royally
this paast weekend. One of the best players
came up to me afterwards and stomped her cleats into
the turf, “I hate losing, Coach Palko.”
Me too.
My point in sharing all this is …
No one. I mean no one. If they
are worth their salt puts more pressure
on themselves then a high performing athlete.
No one if they have a championship mindset
is going to be down on themselves more than
the high powered athlete.
So save your hate mail. Save your energy death threaters.
You are just a nobody who has nothing better to do with your time if
life depends on your team getting to the BCS championship.
What have you been knocked down with recently.
Anything? Well, join the club. Thats life.
One of the best things sports teach us is this.
When you face adversity. When you experience hardship.
Its easy to curl up and quit. Those who get up
and dust themselves off and move on are the winners.
No, they are champions.
Be a champion today!
Vince Palko
P.S. To get more of what I cooked up
for you in this note- to have on your nightstand, visit
Tackling Life’s Problems.