As soon as football season ends, I like to turn my attention to college basketball. Many sports fans are truly in their element now as the seasons for both men’s and women’s teams are headed into their final weeks and “March Madness” will be here next week.
As important games go down to the wire the pressure starts to build for teams to earn spots in the coveted NCAA Championship Tournament. Every made or missed basket matters, each turnover could make a difference in the outcome, and end-of-the-game heroics are why people tune in.
I’ve noticed something in the last few years and it’s starting to bother me. In sports, many people love to blame the officials for their team’s losses.
“The refs blew it.”
“We got screwed by the officials.”
“We would have won if a couple more calls would have gone our way.”
Isn’t it strange that you have never heard a single fan declare that the only reason their team won a game was because of the referees?
When you win, it surely had to be due to the success or skill that you possessed or displayed. You outworked or outhustled the opponent. You wanted it more.
Yet, for some people, the only reason they lose is if the referee misses something or makes the wrong call.
Calls at the end are always magnified but who’s to say something that happens in the first 5 minutes of the game couldn’t have had as much impact on the outcome? Does a bogey on the 1st hole not impact your score as much as a bogey on the 18th hole?
In my favorite book QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by author John Miller, one of my favorite messages comes from Chapter 16 which is entitled, “Beat the Ref.”
“My father, Jimmy Miller, was head wrestling Coach at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for more than twenty-five years. When he sent me out to the mat, he’d always remind me I had three people to beat that day; My opponent, myself, and the referree.
“That I had to beat my opponent was obvious. By “myself” he meant I had to overcome the fears any athlete naturally has. About beating the ref, he’d say, “It doesn’t matter how close the match is, John. Even if you lose in overtime by one point, even if he makes a couple of questionable calls, you cannot blame the man in black and white. He’d conclude by saying, “If you want to win, you must be good enough to beat the ref!”
What Kind of Competitor Are You?
It’s safe to say that the market is pretty challenging right now but I hope you’ll agree with me that there are lots of opportunities.
Are you going to spend your time and energy blaming interest rates? Low inventory? Discount brokers or third-party lawsuits?
What do you need to do this week to overcome the same obstacles and challenges facing your competition? Who are the teammates or partners you will surround yourself with this week to maximize your focus and efforts? How will you approach each day mentally and physically? Where will your next win come from?
It’s time to hold yourself accountable to do what it takes to achieve success. You can do it. You don’t need any referee to help you.
Don’t “B-LAME.”
Instead, do what it takes to win the game.
