Playing with Fire Podcast

Financial Spanking and Time-Out for Bad Boys

Okay, you may think me a little strange but I am trying to be good and do the right things in life. I believe that I have been blessed with certain skills, talents and abilities and I am asked to “double” them. I am not perfect, not even close, but I try to get better each day, in every possible way. If I fall, I get back up, apologize, and honestly resolve to do better next time. I have come a long way in my understanding of “good and bad” since I was an athlete competing at an international level but I still have a long, long way to go. The hard part is not understanding what is good but in living it.

NFL Commissioner Goodell plans to punish players who violate NFL conduct policies through severe financial “spankings” and game “time-outs.” Obviously something needs to be done and this may be a necessary first step but it does not solve the real problem. The underlying issue is selfishness which manifests itself as pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and lust. The solution is to grow in prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, faith, hope and charity. If we are not raised with the expectation that we will be men and women of character and virtue then the the fines and time-outs may slightly change behavior but not hearts.