silenced

Perhaps you’ve noticed…  If you’re a fall football fan (and please don’t quit reading if you’re not — as I promise this message is not about sports), there’s been an unusual development that supposedly we’re not allowed to talk about… or at least those closer to the source have been silenced.  For example…

 

Two timeouts were given to the San Francisco 49ers, who had no timeouts.

 

A 20 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was given to the Washington Redskins, even though such behavior only merits 15 yards.

 

An Oakland Raider was hit in the head, helmet to helmet, which is illegal contact; the player was carted off the field and subsequently hospitalized; no penalty was called.

 

And last night the Seahawks beat the Packers on one of the most ambiguous, controversial, shakiest touchdowns ever called.

 

Pass interference has been constantly questionable.  Officiating has been completely inconsistent.  Incomplete passes have somehow evolved into fumbles.  In other words, far more than footballs have been fumbled.

 

As those of you who are sports fans are well aware, the NFL referees are on strike, having been locked out by the league.  Replacement refs are currently officiating games.  Note:  since most large conference college refs are bound to their conference, the replacement crews were recruited from smaller college divisions, the United Football League, Arena Football League, and — yes — even the Lingerie Football League.  These referees do not necessarily have the skill nor experience to do what we’re asking them to do.

 

We are asking them to officiate… to be in charge… to preside over an event in which large sums of money are involved… to lead.  But yet, they just don’t seem totally qualified.

 

Question:  what are we to do when leaders aren’t quite qualified to do what they’ve been called to do?

 

… to manage people?

… to oversee all operations?

… to comprehend the financial aspects?

 

Are we able to acknowledge weakness, especially when our leaders may or may not be qualified?

 

After week 2, with the replacement refs’ errors becoming more frequent and glaring, the NFL decided to step in, responding to the escalating complaints.  How did the National Football League respond?

 

Senior league officials called the owners, general managers, and coaches from all 32 teams, telling them that they expect better treatment for the referees; they will no longer permit the perceived disrespect.  NFL executive vice president Ray Anderson said, “We’re not going to tolerate it,” affirming that flags, fines, and suspensions are possible for coaches and players who violate this instruction.

 

Coaches and players cannot be disrespectful… even with questionable, inconsistent, and fumbling officiating.

 

At the onset of this post, I claimed this message would not be about sports; it’s not.  This is about how we react to ineffective — or unqualified — leaders.

 

In no sense would the Intramuralist advocate intentional disrespect; however, what strikes me in the NFL’s response is not so much the disrespect, but rather, the perception that the referees cannot be significantly questioned or disagreed with; their lack of qualification is not a permitted topic.

 

Such causes me to think of one of the more glaring challenges in leadership today, for leading has become more about rhetorical promise than actual capability.  We aren’t good about saying, “Here’s what I’m gifted at; here’s what I’m not.”  We aren’t good at accepting significant, challenging questions.  We love to speak of strength — but we rarely acknowledge individual weakness.  We don’t like to admit that one we believe in may not be thoroughly qualified.

 

That includes those that should or shouldn’t be in government — and those that should or shouldn’t be a referee… even in the lingerie league… especially at last night’s Packers/Seahawks game.

 

Respectfully,

AR