Being tough - Final Chapter.

Who would you rather have on your team?

Wayne Gretzky or Scott Stevens  - who was tougher?

Mike Bossy or Denis Potvin?

If you had to pick one player... would you pick...Joe Montana? or Dick Butkus? Actually I am aging myself....would you pick Tom Brady or Ray Lewis, who do you think is a tougher guy. The Guy who makes the big hits, or the guy that takes the big hits.

Of course there is a lot of other information you would need to make these decisions. i am being a bit goofy...because there is no solid answer.

In sports, you need tough guys. Guys that can take a hit, and guys that can deliver a big hit.

Here is where I think the difference starts to affect your team. If you have a "tough" guy that will make a really stupid hit or make a bad slash late in a game when your team is up 3 - 2 (hockey) or 11 - 10 (lacrosse) etc. and you are now are a man short....this is where I have a problem with the "tough" guy.

The team is not his concern. Being tough is. Not good.

In fairness...we have to talk the other side.

The "scorer" who late in a game, with their team down 8 - 7...and the ball goes into the corner, and the "scorer" is not "tough" enough to go in after the ball/puck...and get it.

The team is not his concern. Not good (again)

I find this interesting....because once again there is no solid answer. I am sure if I was a team owner...I would have a team full of hockey players like Doug Gilmour and Wendal Clark.......guys that are tough on defence, and tough on offence, but we always don't have that luxury.

Tough players come in all shapes and sizes...some can hit, some can take a hit....but what i really think is we need to respect each other, learn to play together....and understand that being tough means a lot of different things.

If you want to see another side of tough....i have copied my Mom's comment to my last blog. Read on. (thanks Mom)

TOUGHNESS!!
From a woman/Mother's perspective..toughness for me is defined in the "SPIRIT"! I have met so many extremely challenged
friends and read many stories about incredible tragedies that effect families.The "heroes" in these stories meet these
moments with an attitude and determination that cannot be matched.

Toughness in Sports is another story.

Toughness is:
1. Showing up for a practice/game when you miss a special occasion
2. Playing with the minimum number of players
3. Playing when your body is not at its "best"
4. Not retaliating when some "goon" is bound to stop your scoring
5. Congratulating your opponents on their victory(OH HOW THAT HURTS)!
6.  Rallying around your goalie and/or player(s) that did not "show up" for the important match
So...be "tough" in SPIRIT AND DETERMINATION AND RESOLUTION to be YOUR best in all walks of life.