Dear NFL: Get your act together or I might have to break up with you.

This was in my newspaper this week.  Here are some of the tough questions Dave Hyde asks in his column:

"Once upon a time, the antidote for such ugliness was to escape to the games. Enjoy Sunday. Soak up the fun. But now? Is it just me who's having trouble seeing the fun and games as just fun and games anymore?

Can you enjoy football the same way when even the NFL testified in federal court one in every three players will suffer mental problems in their retirement?

What does it say that America's biggest game not only cripples players during them but increasingly leaves them with mental problems for life? Or can you set that aside to enjoy your football weekend?"

I hate the thought of Mark Cuban being right (again). Remember when he predicted the demise of the NFL in May? His rationale was not based on the bad PR of wife and child abusers, rather the gluttony of the owners who will fill every night with football.

Kind of like when ABC saturated prime time with "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" in 2000. I still remember my friend Matt Zelkind, the news director at WKRN, initially giddy at the early ratings and then moaning in anguish when the network gurus considered the show like crack or heroin and gave us three doses per week.

The Incognito saga was shameful and I hated that it involved the team I am trying to love. Then along came Ray Rice. And Adrian Peterson. And a host of other less-famous accused abusers.

Domestic violence accounts for 85 of the 713 arrests of NFL players since 2000 in a database compiled by USA Today.

On the way home from work Friday, I listened to Dan Le Betard interview Don Van Natta, the author of an unfolding story detailing how the Ravens tried to cover up the whole mess.

"The NFL's billionaire owners, who pay Goodell more than $44 million a year, are said to be supporting him as he navigates the worst crisis in NFL history and as some league sponsors, most notably Anheuser-Busch, are jittery. Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson is asking the owners to sign a petition of support for Goodell; at least three have apparently done so. For his part, Goodell has told friends he'd never resign, and he said he's confident his job is not in jeopardy."

Get this fixed, Goodell.  Or get out.

Leadership lessons from football

Correction alert. This post contained a misspelled name. Thanks DeAnn Smith, for helping me!


Saturday night, I watched the NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on ESPN.  John was still in Connecticut, spending time with his brother so I was home alone, trying to amuse myself for a few hours.

I found the speeches to be profoundly moving.  At one point, I called Charlie during Jerry Rice's acceptance and demanded that he watch it.  I'm sure he thought I was crazy (or drunk).  I was neither.  Rice is not a great speaker, frankly.  But his words were powerful.

"My fear of failure drives me," Jerry Rice said.

Fear can be a powerful master.  It can paralyze you...or make you better.

Learning how to prevail in the face of fear is the single most important step one can take toward becoming a successful risk-taker and maximizing success.

Linebacker Rickey Jackson talked about the importance of his hometown.  He wants his name to be part of the "Welcome to Pahokee" sign where he grew up. 

I get that.  (Wagner, South Dakota, if I get famous????)

Floyd Little's son gave an incredible introduction and Floyd's message was simple--Don't focus on your weakness.  This is easier said than done.  Many of us our most critical of ourselves than we are of others.  Self-reflexion is important but keep it in perspective!

Emmitt Smith, however, took the night.  He did two things incredibly right.  First, he recognized his teammates, most notably Darrell Darryl "Moose" Johnston.  He said Johnston took care of him like a little brother and he began to tear up.  So did I.

Second, Emmitt Smith said that to win, you have to show up every day.

That takes effort.  It's hard.  The road to success is paved with obstacles, most of which are unseen.  I read "Fast Company" for manager tips and here's what one expert says about bringing your best, every day:

It's not an issue of results. It's an issue of momentum. When you believe you can have a positive impact, others believe it too. Everyone's inspired to action. And you build momentum. When you vacillate in that belief, others vacillate too. Action starts and stops. Momentum never comes. And you get resignation and exhaustion instead. In this way, delivering your best is not something you can turn off and on depending on circumstances. It must be a daily habit. It must be a manner of traveling.

There is no wait-and-see.  There is only now.

He's so scary.

Seconds after the Chiefs picked Eric Berry in the NFL draft, my son Charlie called to say he wants an Eric Berry Chiefs jersey.