Heads Up Ball

On Sunday’s game Antoine Bethea, an Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman, was playing heads-up ball. Jameis Winston, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback launched a shot toward his receiver. While there were three receivers on the field, he chose the one that was open, the one with the best opportunity to make a play. But the Cardinals…

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Everyday Heroes

After a home game the Detroit Lions lineup is typically served a post-game meal in the tunnel leading to the locker room at Ford Field. The food is well flavored and filling, satisfying to large men who worked hard on a physical level for 2.5 or 3 hours. The players look forward to the grub…

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Internal Motivation

It’s easy to push myself when I’m challenged, when I’m disrespected. When I was in my 20’s, a co-worker bet I didn’t have what it took to run 2 miles a day over lunch for 30 days. That I didn’t have the internal fortitude. He threw down the gauntlet. I was off and running the…

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Changing Expectations

It’s difficult for a competitor to be picked up by a new team. And different expectations can be a challenge. A star player joined a new team and was not playing as much in a game as he thought he should be. The team was losing the game. The player felt he had more to…

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Early Success

Each week a football team faces different challenges from the opposing team. Each game plan is different. It might be a strong emphasis on passing. Or perhaps an almost superhuman running back tipping the odds. Or the defensive line that’s a powerful force to be reckoned with. UCLA has had a phenomenal win or two…

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Riding on Past Success?

I achieve a big goal. Something I’ve always wanted. If you’re like me, maybe it’s losing the X number of pounds you wanted to shed. Or kept to your three times a week exercise program. Or kept your promise of a positive attitude for 3 weeks. It’s like a team taking stock after winning the…

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Shake It Off or Wallow in the Doldrums

I love football and have been a fan for most of my life. And to me, football is a metaphor for life. Sometimes I’m the coach. Sometimes the quarterback. At times a lineman and sometimes up in the bleachers. Being human, the quarterback isn’t always perfect. At times he makes a bad pass. Throws an…

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