The NBA began a push for absolute transparency this year with their “Last Two Minute Report.” The idea behind this report was to recap every call made or missed in the last two minutes of the game in an effort to increase accountability to the fans. Although the NBA referees union has been very much opposed to this new report, the NBA Commissioner has remained steadfast in his decision to keep it going. Mike Bass, an NBA spokesman published a statement this past Tuesday in response to the latest criticisms,
“We understand the referee union’s desire to protect its members, but the fact is that in today’s world, transparency is necessary for any organization. The NBA is no different and we are committed to protecting the integrity of our game.”
Their reasoning behind the continued use of this new controversial reporting sends a powerful message, not just to the league, but to America as a whole.
The NBA has resolved to blame themselves publically for every mistake they make. The NBA seems to understand something that far too many of us have forgotten – Only by finding ways to blame problems on ourselves do we give ourselves the power to correct it.
Only by finding ways to blame problems on ourselves do we give ourselves the power to correct it.
Any fan of the NBA can list off those players and coaches that always seem to find a way to blame the ref when the final score does not go their way. Rarely are those the same teams left holding the trophy at the end of the season. Excuses are certainly easier to make and perhaps make us feel better in the short run, but blaming others for our mistakes and problems robs us of our power to make a change and in turn forces us to accept that we are a victim of circumstances outside of our control.
The great ones like the five time champion coach Gregg Popovich know that you have to stay focused and in control if you hope to win it all. The only way for a team to do that is to find ways to blame themselves so that course correction is possible. At the start of the 2014 season, Coach Popovich had his team watch the entire game film of their heartbreaking game 6 loss to the Miami Heat the year before.
“It’s a game of mistakes. That’s why people score, because you make mistakes. So let’s figure out what we could have done, and that makes us a better team. We went through every single play of Game 6 and Game 7. We made them sit through it. We didn’t yell and scream at ’em or berate ’em or anything. We were very businesslike. ‘Here’s where we didn’t give help. Here’s where we didn’t rebound or put five men on the board.’ So we understand it’s on us. And now you can move forward. It’s on us to see what we can do to get back into that same position.”
This mindset which has been embraced by the NBA carries over to just about every aspect of our lives. One of the most common excuses made these days is, “I don’t have enough time to ________. If we push to blame ourselves, then this becomes, “I did not make time for _________. In sales it is easy for us to say, “No one is buying this time of year.” By pushing to find a way to blame ourselves, this becomes, “I have not forced myself to talk to enough people to find someone who is ready to buy.” Even in our marriages it is easy to make the excuse, “My spouse and I do not have the connection we used to,” rather than finding a way to blame ourselves and saying, “I have failed to make time for my spouse so that we can continue to work on our relationship.”
There is nothing fun about blaming ourselves for our problems. In the same token, there is nothing fun about living through repeated mistakes that could have been corrected had we made the time to focus on a solution rather than pointing the blame. At Mobile Homes Direct, we force ourselves to find a way to blame whatever problems may arise on us as a team. By doing this, we believe that we are the most solution oriented company in our industry, allowing us to provide the best possible service to our team members and customers.
-Alberto Pina, General Manager
