Confidence is something essential in order to be successful in any profession consisting of elite talent. Being surrounded by those that are at the absolute pinnacle of what they do can either be intimidating or compelling depending on your personality. Confidence gives way to something called ego (our sense of self-worth). That sense of self-worth is what allows you and I to handle rejection, failure and opposition without losing the sight of our worth, calling and giftings. Ego according to Webster is the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious, and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.
A healthy ego will allow a gunslinging quarterback like Brett Favre to reinvent himself to prove to everyone that he can still be an elite football player. A healthy ego tells a young quarterback like Tony Romo that despite fumbling a long-snap on the biggest field-goal try of his short career he is still going to be the next Brett Favre. Then ego punches the throttle on his confidence and pushes him to become someone mentioned in the same sentance with the NFL elite.
As much as it takes the combination of ego and confidence to be great in the NFL there are some people that take Ego to a "whole notha' level". Specifically Bill Belichick. The man defines the Super-ego. He is the guy that takes confidence and inflates it into one big arrogant hot-air filled balloon. So lofty has his balloon-sized ego become that it tells him that the rules of the world's biggest professional sports league don't really apply to him. Punishment doesn't seem to faze him either. Despite being given the highest fine in the history of pro football, losing a first round draft pick in next year's draft and being looked at as a cheater by everyone around him, Belichick doesn't seem to give a rip. Other than what he does to the sleeves of his sweatshirt every Sunday afternoon as if to tell the NFL where to stick there dress code.
Since being caught in the "spygate scandal" all Belichick has done is stick one thing after another in the face of everyone in the NFL. He has led the Pats to a perfect 11-0 record and run up the score in almost every game. Pounding the ball into the end-zone and going for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. Heck as 45-7 wasn't enough to beat the Redskins why not make it 52-7 late in the game. Obviously Bill is having trouble mediating between the conscious and the unconscious here. He can't even shake stop long enough to look an opposing coach in the eye and shake his hand after the game? Where does this guy get off? Somewhere reality became non-existent and he decided that he might as well show the world that he is the elite of the elite.
The bottomline is that someone has got to be bad enough to step up and smack him and his dream team in the mouth for 60 minutes. I say it is about time that someone take out the old pee shooter and pop ol' belichick's ego once and for all. The crash landing might be just what the doctor ordered to jar him back into reality. If it is going to be done it will be done by the underdog Ravens or the Pittsburgh Steelers. Both have the defenses to compete with the stellar air attack of New England and the guts to kick butt and take names. Someone has to do it. If the Patriots go undefeated this season we may not be able to see the field over Bill's over-inflated head next season.
If you don't believe me video tells no lies. This is Belichick throwing a camera guy out of the way in order to disrespect his former protege Eric Mangini after their first game against each other. He droppped the F-Bomb in the press conference right afterwards. What a class act huh?
3 comments:
After reading your blog “A Whole Notha’ Level of Ego,” I came away liking it for two reasons. Reason number one is covered in the first three paragraphs, and I do believe wholeheartedly, that confidence and ego are essential to being successful in any profession you choose to pursue. Remember, “ No guts, no glory.”
Reason number two covered the last three paragraphs pertaining to Bill Belichick I agree with because I’m a HUGE Miami Dolphins fan, (here comes my bias)and I can’t stand to see the Patriots, or any other team for that matter, duplicate what the 1972 Dolphins accomplished, which is an undefeated season.
After reading your blog “A Whole Notha’ Level of Ego,” I came away liking it for two reasons. Reason number one is covered in the first three paragraphs, and I do believe wholeheartedly that confidence and ego are essential to being successful in any profession you choose to pursue. Remember, “ No guts, no glory.”
The last three paragraphs pertaining to Bill Belichick covered reason number two. I agree with you because I’m a HUGE Miami Dolphins fan, (here comes my bias)and I can’t stand to see the Patriots, or any other team for that matter, duplicate what the 1972 Dolphins accomplished, which is an undefeated season.
well written Johny Rocket. I think your analysis on ego and sports playing is interesting and it is cool how you go through several players and give readers an insight as to why ego, when used properly, can enhance a player’s game. I probably would have connected better with your blog if I was more of a sports fan and knew who the “super ego” player was. I know your sports audience would certainly appreciate your blog!
Post a Comment