(ThyBlackMan.com) When Pete Carroll made the decision to elect to throw the ball instead of giving it to Marshawn Lynch in the Super Bowl in February of 2015, he was called every name in the book; arrogant, stupid. You name it, he was called it.
Indeed, it was a brash and bold move. He skipped his all-time great running back in favor of a pass play, which was intercepted. Carroll failed miserably in the public eye. But the only person who could have felt that pain was Pete Carroll. Not us, or any other armchair quarterback, just Carroll. Just as if the only person who could feel that joy if he succeeded was Carroll. But he had one thing that made him comfortable; a support system.
He’s still employed by the Seattle Seahawks and he’s still successful, taking the Seahawks to the postseason the following two seasons since his unfortunate decision. He went with his gut feeling and although he lost, I’m sure he goes to bed comfortable because he went with his own instincts.
This is like love. In a previous situation, I knew what I’m up against. I knew that what I was doing was risky, like Pete Carroll. But your gut will take you places and spaces you’ve never been. such as when Michael Jordan’s gut told him to play when he had the flu in 1997. Or when Urban Meyer elected to go for it in overtime against Michigan in that classic game last year. Both individuals were successful with their risk. Traditional wisdom says to not play when you’re sick, and also not to go for it in overtime when you’re only down 3; you kick the field goal. But they didn’t go with tradition, tradition didn’t appeal to them at the moment; they went with their feelings and their gut.
Where I was going in my predicament wasn’t clear, but I learned to take the road less traveled sometimes. There, you learn about yourself and what you can do. And you learn to keep learning from your mistakes. Cause one of my favorite sayings, is that when you die, nobody goes in your grave but you. So when we take this road less traveled; moving to a new city with little cash, trying to figure out your feelings with a significant other, losing weight without surgery or just going against the grain and doing an unpopular decision, a support system is vital.
When you’re doing a risk, you know what the bad outcomes could be; you don’t need reminders. But what will keep us going is a support system. Meyer, Jordan and Carroll all had a support system that believed in them. Because if they didn’t, a flu game, Carroll’s mistake or Meyer’s penchant for doing risky play calls wouldn’t exist. Those moments are apart of them. Cause trust me, you think Pete Carroll didn’t think his decision would fail? Meyer’s? Think Jordan didn’t think he could have jeopardized his team? You better believe it.
Music Editor; Brad Washington
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