The Penalty Box: Playing Hard
February 7, 2023 at 11:22 p.m.
The Penalty Box: Playing Hard
By Roger Grossman-
It’s not a new term. Announcers have been saying that to compliment players in different sports for a long time now.
But, for the first time, this announcer saying it hit me funny. I started thinking “what does he mean when he says that?”
It wasn’t an inappropriate thing for him to say. I mean, he was right—that player does play hard. But then I wondered “that’s Big Ten Basketball we are talking about…doesn’t everyone play hard all the time at that level?”
The answer is “no, they don’t.”
That seems impossible, doesn’t it?
How could someone so gifted not use their talent to the fullest?
How could someone who has been anointed with the ability to run and jump and shoot a ball take even 10 seconds away from giving maximum effort?
Well, the truth is, they do because they are humans just like you and me.
And you and I do it too.
We all do. Me too.
You don’t? Are you sure?
If your job requires you to be at work and working at 8 a.m. every Monday, are you telling me you are ready to roll at exactly 8:00? You have your laptop or computer open and ready to do what it is you do at exactly 8:00:00?
What about when your day ends at 4pm?
Ever shut your computer down and put the “do not disturb” on your office phone at 3:50?
You get an hour for lunch…ever take 90 minutes?
Ever pop on Facebook or Twitter while you are, technically, on the clock?
Of course you do—you and a lot of other people.
What’s the big deal?
The big deal is that there is no difference between you or a Big Ten basketball player, a middle linebacker in the SEC, a major college conference hockey player or any other parallel athlete not being at their best 100-percent of the time.
The only difference between them and the rest of us is that they have video cameras that capture every move they make (or don’t make) and allow us all to see when they take a play off…and you probably don’t.
You probably get into verbal disagreements with your coworkers, and no one sees it and no one knows.
You probably complain about your boss—some of you at least daily—and no one outside your office cares.
Again, the only difference between you and them is that they have people who make a living paying attention to them and what they are doing…and you don’t.
And before you push back with “well they get paid a lot more than I do!”
That’s lame.
You mean as much to your operation as they do to theirs, but your business is on a smaller scale than theirs. Your company is counting on you the same way their teams count on them.
Let’s circle back to where we started—the basketball player who was noticed to “playing hard.”
When you hear an announcer describe someone’s effort as “playing hard”, but not another’s, don’t assume that means the other guys aren’t giving good effort or are somehow derelict in their duties.
It’s meant to be high praise for the person mentioned, and it should be taken exactly that way by everyone involved.
And, let me add, if you are a boss or supervisor or your job puts you in a position of authority over others, don’t be afraid to praise people who are giving 100-percent effort. Don’t worry about hurting everyone else’s feelings. You know your people better than I do, but 90-percent of the people who work for you will fall into one of two camps—some will be motivated to work harder so they get mentioned, and the others will be bitter toward you and those you mentioned.
The rest don’t really pay any attention.
You know which group you need, and which ones you don’t, don’t you?
Now you know what it’s like to be the head coach of a major college or professional sports team.
Here’s a hint: you’re getting paid—keep your head down and work, and let the athletes do the same.
It’s not a new term. Announcers have been saying that to compliment players in different sports for a long time now.
But, for the first time, this announcer saying it hit me funny. I started thinking “what does he mean when he says that?”
It wasn’t an inappropriate thing for him to say. I mean, he was right—that player does play hard. But then I wondered “that’s Big Ten Basketball we are talking about…doesn’t everyone play hard all the time at that level?”
The answer is “no, they don’t.”
That seems impossible, doesn’t it?
How could someone so gifted not use their talent to the fullest?
How could someone who has been anointed with the ability to run and jump and shoot a ball take even 10 seconds away from giving maximum effort?
Well, the truth is, they do because they are humans just like you and me.
And you and I do it too.
We all do. Me too.
You don’t? Are you sure?
If your job requires you to be at work and working at 8 a.m. every Monday, are you telling me you are ready to roll at exactly 8:00? You have your laptop or computer open and ready to do what it is you do at exactly 8:00:00?
What about when your day ends at 4pm?
Ever shut your computer down and put the “do not disturb” on your office phone at 3:50?
You get an hour for lunch…ever take 90 minutes?
Ever pop on Facebook or Twitter while you are, technically, on the clock?
Of course you do—you and a lot of other people.
What’s the big deal?
The big deal is that there is no difference between you or a Big Ten basketball player, a middle linebacker in the SEC, a major college conference hockey player or any other parallel athlete not being at their best 100-percent of the time.
The only difference between them and the rest of us is that they have video cameras that capture every move they make (or don’t make) and allow us all to see when they take a play off…and you probably don’t.
You probably get into verbal disagreements with your coworkers, and no one sees it and no one knows.
You probably complain about your boss—some of you at least daily—and no one outside your office cares.
Again, the only difference between you and them is that they have people who make a living paying attention to them and what they are doing…and you don’t.
And before you push back with “well they get paid a lot more than I do!”
That’s lame.
You mean as much to your operation as they do to theirs, but your business is on a smaller scale than theirs. Your company is counting on you the same way their teams count on them.
Let’s circle back to where we started—the basketball player who was noticed to “playing hard.”
When you hear an announcer describe someone’s effort as “playing hard”, but not another’s, don’t assume that means the other guys aren’t giving good effort or are somehow derelict in their duties.
It’s meant to be high praise for the person mentioned, and it should be taken exactly that way by everyone involved.
And, let me add, if you are a boss or supervisor or your job puts you in a position of authority over others, don’t be afraid to praise people who are giving 100-percent effort. Don’t worry about hurting everyone else’s feelings. You know your people better than I do, but 90-percent of the people who work for you will fall into one of two camps—some will be motivated to work harder so they get mentioned, and the others will be bitter toward you and those you mentioned.
The rest don’t really pay any attention.
You know which group you need, and which ones you don’t, don’t you?
Now you know what it’s like to be the head coach of a major college or professional sports team.
Here’s a hint: you’re getting paid—keep your head down and work, and let the athletes do the same.
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