They are Who We Thought They Were!

Wouldn’t it be great to be able to size up a situation even before it begins?  People who are able to do that have an unusual gift, skill and talent.  To size up the competition, an opponent and to anticipate their plays beforehand and make adjustments is priceless.  To know what to expect, their strengths, weaknesses, plays, formations, and play makers.  To design and develop a strategy that perhaps keeps you in the game or even to win the game is invigorating.      

Who can forget the words of Dennis Green, the former NFL Football Coach of the Arizona Cardinals on national television (October, 16, 2006) after the Monday night football game against the Chicago Bears when he said… …“The Bears are what we thought they were.  They’ve what we thought they were…”  Coach Green was responding to questions about had happen to the team’s defense that had forced six turnovers and for most of the game had shut down the Chicago offense. More importantly his team was able to build a 20 point lead and in less than twenty minutes to go in the game, lost the lead and the game. 

He made that statement in light of the fact the two teams had played each other just two months earlier during the third game in preseason and in which the Cardinals won.  So the two teams knew how to play each other, the plays, the players and the staff.  With that experience, Coach Green and his team believed that gave them an competitive advantage.  However, since it opening season win, the Cardinals had lost four straight games, while the Chicago Bears were undefeated.  And now when the game meant the most, the Cardinals were unable to hold on to a lead for a convincing win. 

Since that time his remarks have become a commercial icon and pointing to the fact that even with a considerable lead, the game is not over with time remaining on the clock.  Of course there is no way to really prepare any team, a group, a company, or community to complete on any stage flawlessly.  Preparation only makes improvement and not perfection; in real terms it only helps to anticipate what could or would happen.   The odds or hopes of winning improve dramatically because of preparation.  In addition, we must remind ourselves that regardless of how much practice or scenario base training goes on; nothing can really replace what happens during the game. 

How well we prepare for a particular game or situation in life may not always lead to an expected outcome.  Some outcomes are hard to predict, especially when you don’t know what will occur during the contest and ultimately affect the results.  In some cases we do not know what will make the difference in the game: a bad call, missed opportunity, a fumble, play calling, wrong defense, or a great play from a playmaker or unsung hero.  And by all means, let’s not forget the about the other team.  In the end, the majority of people may never understand or appreciate how much you prepared for something, but can only recall the final results… the winner and the loser.