I like sports, and I like competition. I grew up on it, played college athletics, and it taught me some of my most valuable lessons. I believe that competition breeds excellence in a way that very few things can. So...compete on!Social media blew up over the weekend in response to the implosion of the Cincinnati Bengals when they played the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL's Wildcard Weekend. From what I can tell, the responses took a variety of forms, particularly from Bengals fans. Some were so dumbfounded with what they observed and could only communicate their frustrations through the briefest of commentary. Others took to online diatribes aimed at anyone who would listen and empathize.
Don't get me wrong. I am with all these people. I root for Cincinnati sports, and I have a particular dislike for all things Steelers. Ever since Kimo von Oehlhoffen rolled into Carson Palmer's knee...the gold and black irritates me.Yet there is another reason why I like sports, whether playing them or watching them. For the sports fan, they often indict us. You see, for many sports have a unique way of triggering that slope of emotion that, more often than not, results in some of our worst moments. Whether it is a heated argument or just a sour disposition for an extended period of time, sports have the capacity of bringing out the worst in us. The game over the weekend and the reaction afterwords evince this.
So what am I trying to say?
People will form conclusions about you in your worst moments. Be conscious whence those moments come, and do your best to remove yourself from those moments. Also, when you find yourself in one of those moments, know that how you respond to getting yourself out of that moment will also be a powerful indictment on your character.
