Forgive me, friends. I feel as if I omitted a glaring point from Sunday’s post. Allow me to return to our previous reference in regard to NFL icon Tom Brady in order to make a more poignant observation.
Briefly first, the basic facts regarding Brady’s current predicament:
- Because under-inflated footballs are easier to catch and throw, the NFL sets specific air pressure levels for game balls.
- Each team is responsible for supplying their own game balls.
- In the most recent AFC Championship game, all 11 of the Patriots’ game balls tested measured below the minimum pressure level.
- After a three month investigation, a locker room attendant, an equipment assistant, and Brady were implicated in the wrongdoing.
- Brady is believed to have intentionally violated the rules — and also to have lied to the public and investigators about his role in the process.
Consequently, the Patriots have lost draft picks and been fined; Brady has been suspended. All indications are that Brady will appeal. He may attempt legal proceedings — which is always interesting when a collective bargaining agreement puts discipline in the employer’s hands, seemingly, often trumping the legal system.
Much of the public, no less, likely already had their minds made up in regard to Brady’s intention, involvement, and virtue in this matter. If one is a Brady or Patriots hater, they stand ready to pounce… I told you so… I’ve always known he was a cheater… If one is instead a Brady or Patriots lover, they are quick to marginalize… It’s not that big of a deal… he’s a good guy… It seems that neither the pouncing nor marginalizing is the wisest assessment. One judgment examines only the above behavior; the other ignores it.
I thus have two thoughts…
First, there are a few aspects about Brady we should mention before we rush to judgment (that means the pouncing or marginalizing). I could mention “Spygate,” the 2007 incident which implicated the head coach and organization, but Brady was not concluded to be involved in that wrongdoing.
Brady is, however, involved in multiple charities, including an Intramuralist favorite, Best Buddies International. At multiple levels, Best Buddies pairs people together in order to encourage and support the inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Brady calls his annual “Tom Brady Football Challenge” — where he plays football with a group of individuals with special needs — “the highlight of my year.” Private as Brady has always claimed to be, he gives those kids unparalleled access to him during that time.
It’s possible the Brady’s Best Buddies and charitable involvement is a P.R. ploy in order to soften his often stoic persona. It is also possible that his involvement is completely genuine. Again, his behavior should not prompt us to pounce… I told you so… I’ve always known he was a good guy… Or… It’s not that big of a deal… he doesn’t do it that often…
My second thought is that society continues to be stuck in the rut of judging people for what they do. I know, I know… judge not, lest you be judged. I get that; I’m merely submitting that we are not all that good at refraining from subtle (and not so subtle) judgments. We feel capable in the assessment of virtue — the good and the bad.
The challenge is that who we are — our character — is far more important that what we do. Granted, what we do is often indicative of who we are. And so as much as possible, we look for patterns. We look for consistency. We look for the so-called “fruit” in a person’s life.
When we examine the fruit produced by Brady, etc., we need to look at the totality of the fruit — and then, still, we must pause… not pounce… and not marginalize. We must also acknowledge that there are aspects of every person’s character — good and bad — that we will never know.
We cannot tell for certain the depth of Brady’s character. That means how honorable it is… or not.
(P. S. An added side note… on those youthful days when my actions were sometimes — shall we say — slightly less than stellar [??], thank God there was no media, Facebook, or Instagram… just saying. Here’s to focusing on the totality of the fruit…)
Respectfully…
AR