Let's talk about Norman. I'm sure he's a big boy and must realize he should've kept his mouth shut and let his performance do the talking.
Let's talk about Beckham. I'm sure he's a big boy and must realize that his antics were an embarrassment to himself, his team and the game. No matter how provocative Norman's words were, they didn't justify Beckham's helmet-to-helmet response.
Let's talk about the officials. During each NFL play, there are 7 officials on the field. With the high number of Norman-Beckham (or Beckham-Norman) altercations, how come Beckham wasn't ejected?
Norman should be lectured to for not keeping his mouth shut. Beckham should be fined heavily and suspended. The officials should be reprimanded appropriately.
Here are some observations, as they relate to yesterday's game.
- Anger is a selfish motivation. It draws attention away from the good, positive, encouraging, impressive and wholesome, and gets people focused on the negative, hurtful and unacceptable. Anger hijacks the moment and will sacrifice everything and do anything in order to prevail.
- Anger stresses relationships. I don't think Beckham's teammates enjoyed his performance. No, I think there was a lot of "cringing" happening. When you're mad, you're never at your best. Anger makes it difficult for people to work together strategically.
- Anger escalates quickly. That means people easily can lose control. Unfortunately, anger doesn't dissipate as quickly as it escalates.
- Anger induces behavior that one wouldn't display under calm conditions.
- Anger does more damage when someone doesn't pull the plug. When there is no self-control, there needs to be others-control. Many in TV land were waiting for Coach Coughlin to pull Beckham and let him have it. Once the officials didn't eject him and the coach didn't bench him, the wrong message was sent. Hey, if there's not going to be any consequence . . .
The NFL will investigate and render its ruling. I'm optimistic that players, coaches and officials will learn from this and become better. I'm hopeful that Norman and Beckham will reconcile.
Oh, yes, a final word: If you breathe oxygen, you have the same capacity for anger as Beckham. Don't think you could never become that angry or get that out of control. You know better.
