Badger State Sports

There was an inspiring piece in the Journal Sentinel this morning (Sunday December 14, 2014) written by Packers beat writer Tyler Dunne about Packers RB James Starks returning this week to the Buffalo area where he grew up.  Here is the link in case you haven’t had a chance to read the article:  http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/starks-has-hopes-for-homecoming-b99407678z1-285733991.html

With all the negativity that seems to dominate the news it’s refreshing to see a positive and high character story like this.  You can’t help but tip your hat to a guy like Starks.  How can you not root for a guy who, despite having an uphill journey to begin with, has repeatedly had setbacks which caused him to lift himself up over and over again?  He’s an inspiration and a role model for kids to look up to.

While reading the comments on this article I noticed folks commenting on how proud they were that Ted Thompson drafted Starks.  One guy said that Starks is the epitome of a Ted Thompson/Packers RB.  Another told a story about how apparently the Packers swooped in and plucked Starks out from under the Chicago Bears grasp.

The draft related comments got me thinking about something I once heard from an NFL scout whose name eludes me at this moment. The scout stated that the two biggest reasons why draft choices don’t pan out are (1) injury and (2) character.

If you stop and think about it, that’s absolutely true.  And you know what else is true?  Successful organizations pay attention to character.  Look at the Pittsburgh Steelers…  the Green Bay Packers…  The New York Giants…   These organizations are known for class and integrity in their dealings.  A tone is set in each of these organizations where character matters from the top of the organization down.  Players form these organizations talk about the “Steeler Way” or “New York Giants Football”.

It’s not that these types of organizations never have bad apples.  The NFL is a violent game and NFL players live on the edge so bad things can and do happen to teams with the best intentions but by setting a standard where character matters and by bringing in high character players (like James Starks) the Packers brass are helping to lessen the odds that our starting QB will be found on a houseboat with a bunch of (cough) escorts.

As we watch the drama of NFL circus acts like the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns unfold before our eyes each year, and as we remember how terrible the Oakland Raiders were towards the final years of Al Davis’ life, it quickly becomes apparent why some organizations succeed and others fail.

Character matters.