TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#142 September 17 2007
Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

After further review -

"You play to win the game," says Kansas City Chiefs' Head Coach Herm Edwards in my book, It's the Will, Not the Skill (new 2007 revised edition available on website as of October 1, 2007). What Coach Edwards is expressing is a "no quit" attitude. No matter how far behind in the score, you play to win. What he's NOT saying is you play to win "at any cost"!, meaning breaking the rules or putting a player in a jeopardizing position for injury.

Too often we witness the breaking of rules in order to become victorious. How does ethics/integrity/playing by the rules/doing the right thing count in playing to win? "Just do the right thing and good things will happen", Edwards believes.

All of the above came to mind in the decision NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (has he had his plateful in his first year?) made in a violation of league rules by the New England Patriots, who were playing at the New York Jets. NFL Security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots' employee who was caught aiming his camera at the Jets' Defensive coaches (Pats on offense) as they signaled defensive formations to their players on the field. NFL rules prohibit sideline videotaping of the opposing sideline. The Pats won 38-14.

Goodell acted swiftly by fining New England Head Coach Bill Belichick one half million dollars ($500K) and the Patriots (football club) $250,000. In addition, the Commissioner will take away a first-round (2008) draft choice, if the Patriots make the playoffs, or if they don't, 2nd and 3rd round draft choices. (I suggest that the fine money go to the NFL Former Players Pension and/or Medical Fund).

What about the Edwards' code: just do the right thing? Seems that "winning" has over taken "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game", (Grantland Rice circa 1920's). "How" dictates ethics and integrity. The NFL's personal conduct policy holds players accountable to be role models, so it must hold coaches accountable for the integrity of the game! What legacy does this three-time Super Bowl Champ leave?

"Spying"/cheating is not restricted to the NFL. Last week in auto racing, Formula One team McLaren was fined $100 million by the World Sports Council and stripped of its constructors' points for using leaked secret data from its rival Ferrari. What's going on here?

"Doing the right thing" is there to ensure fair play. Seems to me it ought to be internal not external.

Will you choose the "right thing" without having an external authority force you to follow the rules?

Look for my book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success
For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

Visit my blog for the entire collection of my Tunney Sides:
http://tunney-side-of-the-street.blogspot.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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