beware of the parent who has a kid with an asshole haircut…
“Anytime you quit hearing “sir” and “ma’am”, the end is pretty much in sight.” …. from the book “No Country for Old Men” by Cormac McCarthy
Last season, a NBA coach who led his team to the playoff’s each year he was the coach; the team went to the finals his 2nd year and he was voted the NBA coach of the year.
Last year, he nearly led his team to the finals again, but lost in the conference finals.
Back in the day of “sir” and “ma’m” a coach like this was celebrated, but not in this world we live in today.
The coach was fired because the star player of the team, someone who was 25 years old didn’t like him.
I am not judging anyone.
I am just wondering when did it all change: when did authority stop having authority?
….I felt like re-mentioning this story which I blogged about in June 010 because it’s sort of along the same theme as todays blog, but not really…
I have great respect for George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees.
Irrespective of what you think about the Yankees … Steinbrenner’s team is unquestionably the most famous, successful and valuable professional sports franchise in the world.
George is well known for enforcing a strict dress code which everyone who plays for or works for him must abide by – including no facial hair, no asshole haircuts and there is no player on the Yankees who is visibly drenched in tattoos.
This dress code and code of ethics is strictly enforced.
If someone doesn’t like it, they play elsewhere.
I won’t waste time discussing (my opinion) on the direct correlation between a strict dress/ethic code to the consistent success of a team or company — I beleive they are linked, but that’s not the point of today’s blog.
When I was a junior in high school….
My high school swim team was at the Florida high school state meet, competing for the state championship (to win the state championship in Florida is a big deal to a high school team)
Anyways…
One of the star swimmers on our team showed up to the meet with a mohawk haircut.
My coach wouldn’t let this guy get on the bus to go to the meet unless he shaved (as the coach called it) his “asshole haircut.”
We relied on this swimmer, Wes… and if Wes refused to shave his mohawk off, he wouldn’t be allowed to swim – and our relay wouldn’t be as strong. Not to mention, Wes was expected to win his two events, thus we needed the points to ensure we won state.
Our coach (who is now the head coach of the USA’s 2012 Olympic swim team) didn’t care – he had a dress code and all swimmers were expected to adhere to this code.
Wes shaved off his mohawk and was allowed to rejoin the team.
Ultimately, he won his 4 events that year and our team won the state championship.
He and the team, we didn’t fight the coaches rules — we thrived because of them.
Yesterday, the “voice of reason” fwd me an article about a 14 year old boy who was recently, kicked off his junior high school basketball team because he refused to cut his hair – apparently, this boy’s hair is too long for the dress code set by the school.
Instead of adhering to the rules set by the school and enforced by the coach.… the kid and his parents are suing the school.
To my absolute disgust, many people are supporting this family; the family will probably win money from the school.
When I was younger, people followed the rules set by the leader, and the rules were not questioned.
But in the world we live in today….
people like this boy and his parents are vigorously, celebrated and supported.
Unquestionably, other coaches and schools around America have had to change their rules and codes of ethic to the “needs” of their athletes and students — just to ensure the coach or the school doesn’t get sued or hassled.
I can only shake my head in disgust…
Where is John Galt?