Character Counts Sports Fans
In the 1990′s the Boy Scouts of America had a great campaign that highlighted “Character Counts” The Campaign is not at the fore front today, but the fact that Character Counts is still alive and well.
Today, as I made my way to work, I was pleased to hear on our local Sport talk station the host talking about Character and that he believed that it really did matter in sports and in life in general.
He talked about athletes that lack character and in the end are not successful. They may have a few years of fame and fortune, but sooner or later their lack of character catches up to them and they are exposed for what they really are.
All to often these days we see this played out on our televisions and radios. How many times over the last few years have we watched as star athletes end up on the news, not for touchdowns or game saving plays, but for scandalous behaviour. Shooting at night clubs, dog fighting, drugs, and other criminal acts.
Why is this? Does being an athlete cause you to be a man of little or no character? No… the answer is they had no character to start with. These athletes grew up in environments that Character did not count. And as a result, they grew up lacking it.
Men of little character fail in the end.
Later on in the day, I heard an interview with Coach Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts. He was interviewed for about 10 minutes and in that 10 minutes he spent 8 talking about Character and what it meant to him. Tony Dungy is without a doubt a man of character and he believes that Character counts. On the Football field, on TV, in the Schools, and in our lives.
And look at the Colts, they seem to be a team of Character. Now I am not a Colts fan, but I know good when I see it. I see success on the football field and I look at two people. Peyton Manning and Coach Dungy. They are the leaders of the team and they both are men of Character. Peyton Manning won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award after last season. The award is is the only NFL award that recognizes off-the-field community service as well as playing excellence. In his acceptance speech Peyton Manning said “With the great advantages of being an NFL quarterback comes great responsibility to make a difference in the community”. I think Peyton gets it.
In our not so distant past we had an out cry from Portland Trailblazer fans. The frustration of having one professional team in the state and they were known as the Trail gangsters or Jail blazers. Paul Allen, the owner had to do something. So they got a new GM and President and started looking for players that not only could dribble a ball, but interact with the community and stay out of trouble. Over the last two years the Blazers have made attempts at building a team of Character. It will be all for nothing however, if the players they get have no idea or foundation of Character. Greg Oden our newest “Star” seems to be one of those players grounded in Character. His upbringing and associations lend itself to being of Good Character. We will see.
The bottom line is that Character Counts. It always has. From the beginning of time to well into the future Character will Count. Those with Character will be successful, long term. Those that do not have it will have their 15 minutes of fame and fade away, or end up on your 11 o’clock news.
The Campaign started in the 1990′s was a recognition of Character. Character that has always been a pillar in Scouting and always will be.
Character Counts!
Happy Scouting!
You can read Peyton Manning’s entire acceptance speech here.
