No One Keeps You In The Loser’s Bracket Of Life But You!

Battling Average! Online Radio With Greg Gilbert

No One Keeps You In The Loser’s Bracket Of Life But You!Comment0Share0Tweet0Share0printemail

Push, Push! I See Its Head. Congratulations! You are the shameful parent of A Bad Idea!

Two Tennessee high school girls basketball teams were banned from a post-season tournament after they “made a mockery of the game” by tanking free-throws, making intentional turnovers, committing blatant rule violations and trying to shoot in their opponent’s goal, officials said.

The suspensions came in response to a Feb. 21 game between Riverdale High School and Smyrna High School, who met in the round of a tournament that would determine who would be seeded third in a regional showdown. The winner of the game would have faced a powerhouse squad from Blackman High School, the defending state champions, officials said.

“Both teams played to lose the game,” a referee told the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. The referee recalled watching each team play their backups from the start. Players on both sides passed the ball around with little apparent intention of scoring. When the Smyrna coach told his players to foul Riverdale to give them easy free-throw opportunities, Riverdale players intentionally missed the shots. In the third quarter, the referee said he called both coaches together after seeing Smyrna player try to shoot at the wrong basket.

How was this idea conceived? This bad idea began as all ideas begin. This did not begin with all players and coaches initiating the idea in unison. No, this began with one person. This person then convinces others to buy in to the bad idea through persuasion, authority or intimidation. When this occurs, you have a 500 pound, seven foot tall bad idea in a Bad Idea Maternity Ward. It is ready to run out and wreak havoc on lives and reputations.

I call these Rental Car Decisions. The title of our Leadership and Personal Development Program is “Why We Never Wax A Rental Car.” We never wax a rental car because it is short term. We don’t take OWNERSHIP of the car. We don’t care about the resale value because it does not impact our lives or finances. At the end of the rental we slide a debit card, turn in the keys and leave that part of our life behind.

We cannot slide the keys of leadership and life across the counter and just wipe the slate clean. Rental car decisions are short term but they may have long term consequences. This basketball game is one of them. The coaches that convinced a group of followers to do this have created an embarrassment that will follow these girls for years.

Here is my greatest concern. Let’s give the parents of these players a pass. Let’s assume this bad idea was born at the start of the game. Let’s assume none of the parents had the opportunity to pull their daughter from the long term impact of this bad idea.

How did two full teams of high school students think this was right and go along with the bad idea. At what grade is the difference in right and wrong taught? What would have occurred if one player gave birth to the good idea of refusing to participate? What if others followed? Yes, it probably would’ve resulted in getting removed from the team. Think about the life lesson that would occur when the administration does the RIGHT thing; terminates the coach and reinstates the player(s).

Some of you will say but they are just kids. I was waiting on you to say that. That’s where the parents lose their free pass. Honesty, integrity and doing the right thing MUST be taught throughout life. Every parent across the world should be using this story as a teaching moment to every child old enough to comprehend.

We must learn at all ages there should NEVER be long term punishment for doing the right thing. Honesty and integrity must always win. It is a major role of leadership to insure this occurs.

Life is much like this basketball tournament. We will always face powerhouses. These will be in the form of challenges in our health, finances, relationships and our career. We will be placed in the loser’s bracket by life many times. You see, not everyone in the loser’s bracket is a loser. There are winners in the loser’s bracket. The losers are the ones that chose the loser’s bracket and stay there.

Greg Gilbert

Greg Gilbert conducts Keynotes And Local Management Development Sessions On-Site and at locations around the country. He is committed to assisting the willing to “Lead Like You Own It” through increased Education, Engagement and Accountability.

Visit GregGilbertCoaching.com for more information.