Read the debate intro and Sports Geek’s argument that a player is justified in publicly calling out his general manager.
There is nothing wrong with some good ole fashioned folksy wisdom from time to time!
- Don’t air someone else’s dirty laundry
- People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
- When you point at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you
- Do not attempt to remove the speck from your brother’s eye until you have removed the plank from your own (even the Bible has something to say on this topic!)
Each of those sayings illuminates one simple point – nobody is perfect, so be careful what you do in public. Your actions can be criticized just as easily as you have provided criticism. Perhaps Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun could learn something from these lessons…
Last week Braun publicly voiced his concerns regarding the performance of his team and for the future of the Brewers organization.
In response, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin chided Braun, saying, “It was inappropriate for him to say what he said.” Melvin also stated that Braun’s comments were irresponsible, and he criticized Braun for “get[ting] on his teammates like that.”
I think Melvin is 100 percent correct in his comments. Braun was way out of line for publicly criticizing both his teammates and the organization.
Braun actually comes across as arrogant and overly critical. He attacked his own teammates, and the organization, all in the interest of trying to appear as if he actually cared about his team. The problem is that statements like those ALWAYS do more harm than good. Like the old saying goes – “You catch more flies with honey” (there’s that folksy wisdom again).
The only thing that Braun actually succeeded in doing with those statements was to embarrass himself, his team, and the Brewers organization.
Instead of garnering support to make the situation better, he alienated himself from everyone, and came across as if he believes he is the only one on the team doing anything right. He basically said, ‘the REST of my team stinks.’ That’s how his teammates likely interpreted it, anyway.
Does that mean that Braun should sit idly by and not voice concerns he may have about his organization? Absolutely not. But there is an appropriate time and place to have those conversations, and during a post-game press conference is not the time or the place!
For a team to be successful, the members at EVERY level of the organization must understand the role they play. Imagine if Melvin had walked up to Braun, while he was at bat in a game, and suggested that he take a swing or two for Braun, because Melvin thought that would, ‘make the ball club better.’ It would be a DISASTER! Melvin’s role does not involve running down fly balls in left field, just as Braun’s role does not involve providing input in personnel decisions. If Braun was concerned about something in the organization, he should have privately taken that conversation up with the appropriate people.
Let this example serve as a warning to any player out there who thinks they are more important than the team, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” (folksy wisdom will never lead you astray)!
