New Orleans Saints Victory in 2010 Super Bowl Provides Inspriration for Optimism
Monday, February 8, 2010 at 3:08PM By Dr. Russ
Monday is Dr. Russ Busster Day. It is the day I write about OPTIMISTIC TIPS to "BUSST-UP" any pessimism standing in your way at the beginning of the week. Today I draw on the New Orleans Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV for optimistic inspiration and wisdom. For an overview and introduction to “Super Bowl Optimism” check out my mini-blog at Life in Lansing.
TEN SUPER BUSSTERS
1. Vince Lombardi Trophy Busster – “I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious.” ~ Vince Lombardi
2. “Ain’ts” Busster – Those who have failed, failed again and learn to fail better learn not to take teasing and ridicule personally. Instead, they learn to take it as feedback that there is much to be done and accomplished. Ridicule is born of strong emotion, indicating somebody cares and is emotionally invested in desire for improvement.
3. Katrina Busster – The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. teaches that, “Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars.” Call the Saints the “Hurricane Comeback Kids.” A “Skilled Optimist” has learned that opportunity for the “greatest of gains” only occurs when life seems to be at its “darkest hour.” Those who see and seek such opportunity in such moments draw on previously untapped motivational reserves, acquire new skills, persist longer than ever before, and able to keep a sharp focus on attaining the previously thought to be impossible goals.
4. Brees Busster – “We just believed in ourselves and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entire country behind us.” (Quarterback Drew Brees quoted by Barry Wilner, Associated Press). In addition to inspiring great individual dedication, a disaster like Katrina often inspires new collaborative efforts and belief that everyone was out to help New Orleans survive and thrive.
5. Two Point Conversion Busster – Coach Sean Payton took the risk of calling for a two point conversion after Jeremy Shockey’s touchdown so the Saints would be up by seven points requiring a the Colts to score a touchdown and extra point just to tie. At first Lance Moore’s 2 point conversion catch was ruled incomplete, but Payton “challenged” calling for a video replay review. Upon review, the incomplete pass call was overturned and two points awarded. The “skilled optimist” knows when to take on the challenge and what is a reasonable risk.
6. Onside Kick Busster – At the beginning of the second half Saints Coach Payton became a role model for an “Optimistic Risk Taker” when he called for an onside kick to start the second half. He told the team, “You’ve got to make me look good on this . . . that really becomes like a turnover.” The “risk” worked and New Orleans not Indianapolis” began on the “offensive” side of the ball. A “skilled optimist” is not afraid of “risk” and with practice over time becomes quite good at “risk taking.”
7. Sean Payton Busster – This “never-before-a-head-coach” coach provides inspiration that the impossible is doable; a 3 and 13 team can become an NFL Division champion the next year - three years after that a “Super Bowl Champion.” More importantly he has inspired an “optimistic” culture within the organization, a culture focused on hard work, responsibility and accountability. He rebuilt the roster with coaches and players who shared those values. Only eight players remain from the 2005 “Ain’ts.”
8. Paper Bag Busster – Resilience to the ridicule of derogatory name calling is one thing, but resilience to being actively ignored and treated as if “does not exist” takes incredible stamina. In the 1990’s “disgusted with losing” fans could have shown their complete disdain for the team by not “showing up.” No, that would have been too easy on everyone. Instead they showed their displeasure with the symbolic act of wearing a paper bag over their head at the game. I’m sure such truth hurt, but it likely forced the Saint’s owners out of complacency and toward an ultimate “fix.”
9. Superdome Busster – The Superdome stands as a monument to the “optimism” of the architectural do-over. Its near destruction by Katrina resulted in re-building an even better venue for sports; now a larger than life symbol of the “never say die spirit” proving that self-reinvention and rebirth are not only possible but preferable to the status quo.
10. “Who Dat” Busster – Making and poking fun at yourself is one of the higher forms of “skilled optimism.” – “Who dat, who dat, who dat say gonna beat them saints,” became the Saints fans rally cry as they made fun of their own Creole language heritage. When we can poke fun at ourselves we show we are capable of the highest form of self-worth.