The sharp opposition to my criticism of Miami QB Carson Beck walking off the field and refusing to shake hands after the Hurricanes lost to the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Championship Game took me by surprise.
Carson Beck threw an interception late in the game that put an end to any chances Miami had for a comeback. I said on my talk show on WWL that I understood how Beck must have felt and that could be a reflection of his character. One caller was suggesting that I was criticizing Carson Beck in every aspect of his life. Another said he’s only a college player and is young and that should be taken into consideration.
First, I was not judging Carson Beck’s entire life because I don’t know him - I was only judging the public moment of him walking off the field and not participating in the traditional handshaking with the opposing team. Secondly, as far as Carson Beck being young - I’m sure he was taught as a kid athlete that you shake hands with the opposing team and as an older college-age student he definitely knew what he should have done.
My point of the conversation, today, was not to bash Carson Beck - it was about holding people accountable to do the right thing. It’s easy to shake hands with the opposing team when you are the winner or when you didn’t throw that late interception. The challenge is to dig deep and find the character it takes to be a sportsman even when you have excuses not to be.
Learning to be a good loser is one of the toughest lessons in life, whether it’s on the field after a game or in the workplace when someone else gets the promotion that you believe you deserved.
There was a time in my career when I was hurt when someone else took a position on the air I had, but I sucked it up and congratulated the person who got it. I may have hoped he failed, but I did congratulate him.
Coaches and players need not be obsequious and go overboard in congratulating the winner if they are the loser, but upholding the concept of good sportsmanship is a noble quest in our society. That was my only point with that conversation on the show today.