SOME BEHAVIOR IS ASSHOLE BEHAVIOR

SOME BEHAVIOR IS ASSHOLE BEHAVIOR

A Cranky Opinion for

CRANKY OPINION SATURDAY

The following is the opinion of a cranky old with very little expertise on the topic opined.  Opposing opinions are welcome, they are wrong,  but they are welcome and please…no name calling.  That goes for you, you big stupid head!

 

Richard Sherman is a defensive back for the Seattle Seahawks.  Last week he made a game saving play which put his team into the Super Bowl next week.  Richard Sherman is a very good football player, one of the best defensive backs in the game. 

Richard Sherman is a very intelligent man.  He graduated at the top of his class in High School, a school that only graduates 60% of its students, so just graduating is an accomplishment.  Richard Sherman graduated from Sanford University, one of the top schools in the nation and is working towards a master’s degree.

Richard Sherman has not had it easy.  He comes from Compton, California, a very tough neighborhood.  He is blessed with intelligence and extraordinary athletic ability and he has developed those blessings through hard work and made it to the top of his profession.

At the end of last week’s game, Richard Sherman gave the choke sign to the 49ers quarterback.  He patted the 49ers receiver, whom he so successfully defended, derisively on the butt and trash talked him.  He then went on national TV and ranted like a lunatic about how great he is, how bad the 49ers were, and a lot of trash-talk bravado.

 

After his rant, the social media erupted about his poor sportsmanship and his lack of class.  His defenders claim it was just natural exuberance and passion and his rant was no big deal.  

Richard Sherman is an African American.  Many of his defenders have gone on to intimate that the hubbub over his rant is all racist.

I think that Richard Sherman is an extraordinary person.  He has overcome a difficult environment, he has overcome racism, and he is at the top of his profession.  Richard Sherman is not a thug.  He has never been arrested or been in any trouble at school or with the law. 

Richard Sherman’s behavior after last week’s game was the behavior of an obnoxious, classless ass.  It should not define Richard Sherman.  It is probably not who he is.  His behavior was probably just an extension of his passion for the game and a continuation of the trash talking behavior many athletes assume to push themselves and to get in the head of the opposition.

These athletes work themselves into a frenzy before every game; just watch the pregame team huddle rituals made famous by Ray Lewis of the Ravens.  It takes a while to come off that frenzy and that is part of what was behind Richard Sherman’s classless, bad sport, obnoxious behavior.

Richard Sherman behaved like an ass after last week’s game.  It does not define him as a man, but he did behave like an ass.  No racism, no animosity, just an honest appraisal of his behavior.  It was no big deal,

But:

He did act like an ass. 

He is better than that.

The preceding was the opinion of a cranky old man, and not necessarily that of management…Mrs. Cranky.   

KIDS, I can’t wait until they’re…

KIDS, I can’t wait until they’re…

 

Infants are just so hard.  If you can just make it past those diapers and constant crying…and then you get the terrible twos which actually extend to the horrible threes.

 Four and five…ah…magical years, you’ve made it.  Kids are great!  From five to ten they are just so much fun, such a joy.

And then…

The teen years, the years where children are old enough to know stuff, but not yet mature enough to accept the consequences of stuff.  When you tell a teenager he needs to save his money for things he wants he will tell you,

“I know, I know!”

But he is thinking,

“But I don’t care, I want it now!”

When you tell a teenager that they are not yet ready for a sexual relationship and they need to be protected against disease and pregnancy, they will tell you,

“I know, I know!”

But they are thinking,

“But I don’t care, I want it now!”

When you tell your teenager he needs to study and learn if he wants a good job in years to come, he will tell you,

“I know, I know!”

But he is thinking,

“But I don’t care; I’ll worry about that later.”

The thing that makes the teen years so difficult is that you cannot tell them anything.  They already know it all…THEY JUST DON’T CARE!  They do not allow reality to get in the way with what they WANT!

Fortunately this is just a stage.  A stage that all kids go through until their brain is fully developed and they are able to weigh consequences and needs against fantasy and wants.

Unfortunately today’s teenage years have somehow been stretched from eleven to past age twenty-two years old.  To make matters worse, teenage parents who typically used to weather the teenage storm at the age of 35-40 and still had some patience now are often in their late forties and fifties, and their patience has dwindled.

In order to survive the teenage years, you need a delicate balance of discipline and sticking your head in the sand.  You need to put your foot down on behavior that you know is going to end badly, while allowing behavior that you suspect will cause some pain, but will not destroy your teen. 

You must let them screw up or they will believe they are infallible, while sparing them from those gigantic mistakes which will follow them forever.  You must allow them their privacy while being stealthy enough to be aware of and steer them away from destructive behavior.

Probably the best way to keep a teen out of trouble is keep him busy…tire him out…not unlike keeping an adolescent Labrador Retriever out of trouble.  Sports, chores, school, family time, scouts, busy busy, busy. 

Or you just have to be lucky.

Then you have grandchildren.  Grandchildren are wonderful.  When they’re not, they are your children’s problem.

All you have to do is worry.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS

 

 

I have heard it said that the way to be successful is to set and work toward goals that are just beyond your reach to achieve. 

I guess, but it depends on how you define success. 

If you define success as achieving at a very high level, or as becoming powerful, or wealthy then the above formula might work.

If you define success as being healthy, happy, and satisfied with life, the above formula may leave you frustrated and unfulfilled and therefore not successful.

How do I define success?  Well, being that I am not in a position of power, or wealthy, or have never achieved anything at a very high level, I better choose the later definition. 

I believe in setting goals that are easily attainable. 

I can provide a roof over my family's head and food on the table.  Goal achieved.

I can eat well, exercise and if I am lucky stay fairly healthy.  I have outlived many of my powerful, wealthy, high achieving peers.  Goal achieved.

I want my children to grow healthy, stay off drugs, and become positive productive citizens.  Goal achieved.

I would like a functioning car, a color TV, air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter.  Goal achieved.

Al Gore wanted to be President of the United States…FAILURE!

Nick Saban wants to win the College National Football Championship every year…FAILURE!

Tiger Woods wants to win every golf tournament…UTTER FAILURE!

Oprah wants to establish her own highly rated TV network…FAILURE!

These and so many others have clearly failed in life while I am a complete success.

My ex-wives wanted to marry a powerful, wealthy, and high achieving man…FAILURE!

Success is really quite easy.  Set easily achievable goals. 

Tomorrow I intend to wake up above ground. 

I hope to have many successful tomorrows.