TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#106 January 8 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. . .

With the 2006 NFL regular season over you may have noticed that the Cincinnati Bengals are not in the playoffs. Some predicted the Bengals would be in Miami representing the AFC in the Super Bowl XLI. Didn't happen.

Did distractions detour the Bengals goal to reach the playoffs? Was it WR Chad Johnson, one of the best pass catchers in the NFL, sticking "Ocho Cinco" over his uniform No. 85? The NFL told him to remove it and he did. QB Carson Palmer wants to throw the ball in his direction, because Chad will make the catch. My question is what compels Chad to say, "Look at me" with his celebration antics in the end zone and "ocho cinco"? Did his showboating distract from the T*E*A*M value that Head Coach Marv Lewis is trying to build.

Coach Lewis is a role model not only for Afro-Americans who strive to achieve, but also for any one seeking a leadership role in the NFL. Marv is the second Afro-American to become a head-coach via the NFL's Minority Fellowship Program. Herman Edwards, who was selected as head coach of the New York Jets in 2001, and now Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, was the first. Lewis and Edwards are coaches who provide positive leadership and walk their talk.

Distraction toward a championship season for the Bengals was exacerbated during the 2006 season with the arrest of eight (that number is not a misprint) Bengals players on charges of: DUI, burglary, aggravated assault with a firearm, vandalism and spousal battery. The NFL took a strong position.

"We have to hold our players and coaches to a higher standard", confirms the stand taken by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Coach Lewis is "embarrassed" and does what he can, but he says "these are adults and I shouldn't have to be with them 24/7". It's incredulous to think a professional football player does not have respect enough for his teammates, his coach and mostly - himself to avoid incidents that cause distraction.

We hear some professional players complain, "I don't get no (sic) respect". Of course you don't! In order to "get" respect one has to first, respect himself, and second, demonstrate respect for others e.g. his family, his teammates and the game. It begins with that individual giving and showing respect.

Will you demonstrate in 2007 respect for your self and respect for others?

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

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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