Sunday at the Post

QUOTE/STORY OF THE WEEK...

“I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. No other person has been more eloquent and passionate in getting this idea across than Henry David Thoreau. As a result of his writings and personal witness, we are the heirs of a legacy of creative protest. The teachings of Thoreau came alive in our civil rights movement; indeed, they are more alive than ever before. Whether expressed in a sit-in at lunch counters, a freedom ride into Mississippi, a peaceful protest in Albany, Georgia, a bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, these are outgrowths of Thoreau's insistence that evil must be resisted and that no moral man can patiently adjust to injustice.” -- Martin Luther King Jr. on Henry David Thoreau.

Today we honor Thoreau’s birthday. King was inspired by Thoreau’s work, which he wrote about in his autobiography : “Here, in this courageous New Englander's refusal to pay his taxes and his choice of jail rather than support a war that would spread slavery's territory into Mexico, I made my first contact with the theory of nonviolent resistance. Fascinated by the idea of refusing to cooperate with an evil system, I was so deeply moved that I reread the work several times.”

Happy Birthday, Mr. Thoreau.

COUNTDOWN TO THE SEASON...13 DAYS UNTIL THE BILLS/BROWNS

Baltimore Ravens July 27 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
Buffalo Bills July 25 (rookies and veterans)
Cincinnati Bengals July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Cleveland Browns July 24 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Denver Broncos July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Houston Texans July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Indianapolis Colts Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Jacksonville Jaguars Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Kansas City Chiefs July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Miami Dolphins Aug. 1 (rookies and veterans)
New England Patriots July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
New York Jets July 27 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)
Oakland Raiders July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Pittsburgh Steelers July 31 (rookies and veterans)
San Diego Chargers July 26 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Tennessee Titans July 30 (rookies and veterans)
Arizona Cardinals July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Atlanta Falcons July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Carolina Panthers Aug. 2 (rookies and veterans)
Chicago Bears July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Dallas Cowboys July 29 (rookies and veterans)
Detroit Lions July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Green Bay Packers July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Minnesota Vikings July 30 (rookies and veterans)
New Orleans Saints July 30 (rookies and veterans)
New York Giants Aug. 3 (rookies and veterans)
Philadelphia Eagles July 26 (rookies), July 29 (veterans)
San Francisco 49ers July 28 (rookies), July 30 (veterans)
Seattle Seahawks July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
St. Louis Rams July 30 (rookies), July 31 (veterans)
Tampa Bay Bucs July 31 (rookies and veterans)
Washington Redskins July 29 (rookies and veterans)

THINGS WE LEARNED LAST WEEK IN THE NFL...

APRoger Goodell

1. Vacation time is dominating the NFL right now, but we did see NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, along with Seahawks head Coach Jim Mora and club CEO Todd Leiweke, climb Mt. Rainier, reaching the 14,411-foot summit, the tallest point in the rugged Cascade Range. Congratulations to all who made the climb, which raised more than $300,000 for the United Way of King County.

2. The tragic deaths of former Ravens and Titans quarterback Steve McNair and his girlfriend Sahel Kazemi were ruled a murder/suicide. McNair's casket was on display at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he had attended services since moving to Nashville in 1997. It was flanked by a large photo of him posing with his 2003 NFL MVP award and another of him holding a football. The program included a statement from the McNair family: "Today in our loss, our hurt and our pain we recognize our gains in you our friends and loved ones ... They have all been a source of strength and comfort at this time to our family."

3. The head of a movie studio said he intends to repay members of the New Orleans Saints and others the nearly $1.9 million he received from them -- after he finds other investors. In a statement issued by a public relations firm on Friday, Wayne Read, chief executive of Louisiana Film Studios LLC, said money became tight because of higher than expected expenses and lower than expected revenue during the project's startup.

4. A judge on Thursday blocked the NFL's suspensions of Minnesota Vikings linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for violating the league's anti-doping policy, a move their attorney said should allow them to start the season with camps beginning in three weeks. Will this case ever end?

THINGS I HEARD AROUND THE NFL LAST WEEK...

1. The Redskins are really counting on Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, both two-year veterans, to upgrade a very mediocre receiving corps. That’s obvious, but can either of them make the leap? Whoever plays quarterback for the ‘Skins will need some help from either Thomas or Kelly since the skill positions are lean. The favorite right now is Thomas, but this could all change as camp progresses.

APMichael Vick

2. July 20 is the last day of Michael Vick’s house arrest. At that point, it would seem the commissioner would need to make a timely decision regarding Vick’s future in the NFL. Expect a ruling about three weeks after the house release is over.

3. One reader commented that I’m too hard on Brad Childress, the head coach of the Vikings. I have nothing against Brad, but when you look over his tenure in Minnesota, there are many questions one might ask of his moves. The interest in Brett Favre after the lack of interest in Jay Cutler is baffling, to say the least. But if I’m wrong in my opinion of Childress as a head coach, I will admit my mistake. As Michael Corleone said to his brother Sonny in “The Godfather,” “This is not personal, Sonny, just business.”

4. The Cowboys are always the talk of the NFL, no matter what time of year it is. Head coach Wade Phillips has taken over complete control of the defense, calling all the plays. As defensive coordinator, he hasn’t gone easy on the Cowboys’ offense in camp this offseason, sending all sorts of blitzes and seemingly challenging the offense to respond. Does this mean it’s Phillips vs. offensive coordinator Jason Garrett every day? Does this mean Phillips and Garrett don’t have a great relationship? I don’t know or care, but I do know this: There’s nothing like a little competition to bring out the best in both men. The harder the practices, the easier the games will be.

5. We must be getting close to a formal Favre decision regarding the Vikings. The next two weeks are now or never, and I would have a very difficult time believing he could miss any camp and be ready to play effectively. The key word here is “effectively.” The Vikings open camp on July 30.

VIDEOS OF THE WEEK...

C-SPAN's Booknotes with Brian Lamb: Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill (2003)

LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT IDEA...

“What the f*ck is your plan? Mustard packs.” -- Paulie “Walnuts” Gualtieri, HBO’s “The Sopranos”

As many of you know, I’m a huge (fanatical might be a better word) fan of “The Sopranos,” in part because it appeals to my love of Jersey and my Italian heritage but mostly because of the quality of the character development and the great writing that made each show special.

Paulie "Walnuts"

Season 3 was one of my favorites. It had great writing, great characters (Can Gloria Trillo, I mean Annabella Sciorra, make “Eight in the Box”?) and some of the best episodes ever.

Episode 37, “Pine Barrens,” is a classic and where the above quote originates. The plot line centers on the concept of a very simple plan that goes awry.

The first fundamental rule of leadership is “Management of Attention.” This means you must have a plan, one that can achieve the goals set forth. Now, as we can see from the misadventures of Paulie and Christopher in the Pine Barrens, just having a plan doesn’t always work. You must have the right plan.

How can you be assured that your plan can work? Warren Buffett once said, “I want to be able to explain my mistakes. This means I do only the things I completely understand.” Therefore, a great plan comes from completely understanding what it takes to be successful.

The best answer for all of us is to pay very close attention to the mistakes in our professional field. In the NFL, the best way to formulate plans on and off the field comes from watching other successful operations work, or from learning from the mistakes of others.

Since learning from mistakes helps leaders, the Harvard Business Review provides a list of 10 fatal flaws that can derail them:

1. Lack energy and enthusiasm: Paulie had planned to take his mother to the social security office, so this job was an inconvenience.

2. Accept own mediocre performance: Paulie had a bad attitude before doing the job; he felt the job was beneath his stature in the family.

3. Lack clear vision and direction: Had no clear understanding of the task at hand, or how he would perform the task. Decided to just “wing it.”

4. Have poor judgment: Dropped the Russian’s universal remote control on the floor, which started all the problems.

5. Don’t collaborate: Ignored Chrissie’s request to behave when first dealing with the Russian.

6. Don’t walk the talk: Walked in a circle in the Pine Barrens, which resulted in not being able to find his way out.

7. Resist new ideas: Paulie would not listen to Chrissie’s idea to stop in the Roy Rogers for a bite to eat.

8. Don’t learn from mistakes: The Russian was tougher than they first thought.

9. Lack interpersonal skills: Four years in the Army didn’t help Paulie develop a plan that would work.

10. Fail to develop others: “This guy can never come back to tell this story” were the words of wisdom Paulie received from Tony as this bad plan kept unfolding and unraveling.

Watch “Pine Barrens” and you can see that Paulie as leader was 10 for 10 on each item from the Harvard Business Review. We can learn how to be better leaders from failed leadership.

ARTICLES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THAT AREN’T WORTH MISSING...

Nothing bothers me more than reading about a player dying in training as he prepares for the football season. Here is an article from Deadspin, regarding Ja'Quayvin Smalls, a junior defensive back for Western Carolina who collapsed during a voluntary workout and died later at the hospital.

They say old athletes cling to their youth, but maybe it's the other way around. How else to explain the story of Rubin (Tuffy) Jordan? This is a must read.

COMMENT OF THE WEEK FROM THE POST...

"Am I the only one who laughed at the title of this article?....gigidy"

 From "Professor" on Jack Bechta's article "Getting through the back door"

REMEMBER WHEN....

“Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... waiting... and though unwanted... unbidden... it will stir... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... guides us... passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace... but we would be hollow... Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead.”

Joss Whedon (American screenwriter, producer and creator of the show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Also known for “Toy Story,” “Alien Resurrection” and “Angel.”

The word “fanatic” comes from the Greek work fanaticus, which was inspired by a deity, frenzied, from fanum temple. The word was shortened to “fan,” but the shortening of the word never shortened the power in the meaning. The NFL is a great league because of the owners, players, coaches and most notably the “fans.” Without the fans, we would not have the TV deals, the sold-out stadiums, the personal-seat licenses (so bad) and the passion that makes every weekend in the fall so special. The passion of the consumer drives the NFL train.

Jenny Hassell is a “fan.” She loves her Tennessee Titans with all the passion the Greeks could put into the meaning of the word. She’s been reading the Post since we started, yet it’s not her loyalty to our product that inspires us to give her a forum to express her thoughts on the death of Steve McNair. Rather, it’s her passion for the Titans and her love of her team that many who read the Post share.

Have you ever watched “Inside the Actors Studio” with James Lipton? At the end of each show, Lipton gives his guests the famous Bernard Pivot questionnaire. One question is “What is your favorite word?” My answer is passion, and Jenny Hassel has a passion for her Titans -- which I greatly admire in people.

Here is Jenny’s tribute to Steve McNair...

I can still hear those words ringing in my ear: “And your quarterback...from Alcorn State...number nine... Ste—“ That’s it. You couldn’t hear the announcer any more because the roar of 70,000 fans drowned him out.

AP

Steve McNair is the first in a long list of fan favorites for longtime Tennessee Titans fans. The Titans have been the focal point of my autumn Sundays for more than a decade, and it’s all because of McNair, Frank Wycheck, Eddie George, Jeff Fisher, Brad Hopkins, Bruce Matthews and the rest of “our boys.” We football fans in Nashville embrace this team and its players, and we are proud that Steve McNair was our quarterback.

Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon? Watching McNair was a little like seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. You’ve seen pictures and you think, “Man, that’s beautiful.” When you see it in person, though, it’s different. Your eyes open wider and your heart beats faster. It’s in 3-D. It comes to life. It’s almost overwhelming and definitely awe-inspiring. That was how Steve played football. In 3-D.

I can’t count the times I would turn to my friend sitting next to me at the game and say, “Did he just do that? It was third and 14!” With McNair at the helm, there was always a chance. That’s why we loved him. Hope with a football, if there is such a thing. That was Steve. He scrambled, he juked, he twisted, spun and turned. He did not play boring football. He had nine lives, a sixth sense. He kept us on our feet.

During the playoffs in 2000, on the road to the Super Bowl, my dad called. He was less energetic than usual, and he seemed somber.

“I need to talk to you,” he said. “I’m sick.”

I was a little shocked, but I didn’t know what to say. “Dad, did you go to the doctor?”

“Yes,” he answered. “I went yesterday. The doctor said I have Titans Fever! Air McNair, baby!”

It was Air McNair and friends who gave us that kind of joy. We will miss him. We’ve already missed him, but now, we hurt for him and his family. He was our quarterback.

Right now, it feels like third and a country mile. The task ahead seems insurmountable. We will grieve. We will cry. And then we will remember Steve and his smile, his “aw shucks” personality, his generosity, his friendliness and his heart. And that’s when we will be thankful we got to see him play football on Sundays. We saw a legend, and we will celebrate him.

STORIES TO SHARE...

“All great champions, most of whom are optimists, have become great because of -- not in spite of -- great adversity. Michael Jordan, a perennial optimist, once said, ‘I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions, I have been entrusted to take the game’s winning shot...and missed. I have failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.’ If there ever was a case for optimism that is it.” -- Robert Mack in “Happiness From the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment.”

WE HAVE TWO CHOICES: AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!" He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation. Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all the time. How do you do it?"

Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.

"Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: He left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.

Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'"

Jerry lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

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