I got in an argument about two weeks ago about how there are just some things men and women can’t do in the work force. Whether you agree or disagree, it’s true: there are certain jobs that men cannot work and certain jobs women cannot work.
The New International Version Bible was just recently updated to change certain words and phrases to be more politically correct. We also see it in our “Club Week.” Our society is becoming more and more politically correct. And it’s flowing over into our sports. We’re a society that’s afraid to pick winners and losers.
I played baseball my whole life. In the days of city ball, I remember playing for the Dodgers, Royals, Braves, Diamondbacks and Cardinals in the Babe Ruth League at Todd Lane in Smyrna, Tenn.
Some of my fondest childhood memories come from those ball fields. It was not until much later in my life I realized something was wrong there.
We, like the majority of city sports leagues, had a champion of the league. One team that won the most games and the final tournament.
They were regarded the champion, but there was one major flaw in the system: Everyone won a trophy.
This philosophy is not the best; in fact, it is one of the worst. What does that teach our children?
In life, everybody does not win. I know it’s fair to award things to children that otherwise might not have the chance, but what are they learning?
I’m reminded of Michael Jordan.
We all know he’s the greatest basketball player to ever play the game, but some might not know his story. In high school, he was deemed too short and didn’t make the varsity squad. He became great by wanting to prove that he could play. He saw his goal and wanted to achieve it.
Allowing everyone to win doesn’t teach anything. If we want our kids to be the best they can be, allow them to set goals and see the ultimate prize. Allow them to see the other kids rejoice after winning. We aren’t here to be ordinary or mediocre.
We’re here to be the absolute best we can be. Allow them to see others succeed in order to motivate them to be something better.
Show resiliency and determination in everything you do, because in life, not everybody wins. Motivate yourself to be your own champion.
