What the Super Bowl can teach us about getting down to the real story.
By Amber Hudson and Luke Sklar
Okay, it’s taken us a week to get over the emotional impact of how the Super Bowl ended. Along with you, we have been dissecting the rationale behind the Seahawks decision to throw the ball at the 2 yard line vs. give it to the best running back in the league. The “Monday Morning Quarterback” cliché never rang true more.
Here’s the thing with clichés: while irritating, overused, often cringe-worthy, they stick because they are true…BUT there is always an underlying story. We saw many clichés coming out of the Super Bowl. Here are our Top 5:
Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones – NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth freely expressed his shock over the decision to throw the ball. Has Collinsworth won a Super Bowl? No he hasn’t.
Old habits die hard – Pete Carroll has always been a bit of an outlier, making his own rules, doing what’s needed vs expected, trying new things (e.g. incorporating meditation into their training). 9 times out of 10 it works for him. Keep it up.
A picture says a thousand words – this clip of Richard Sherman (that instantly went viral) says it all.
All’s well that ends well – despite Tom Brady’s 2 interceptions and Jermaine Kearse’s near-miraculous juggling reception, New England played admirably and won the game. If Kearse’s catch sealed a Seahawks win, Brady would be the most cursed QB of all time – with three late-game passes taking the Pats down.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger – Pete Carroll is quoted as saying “I can take a punch”. The Seahawks are still a highly talented team. They’ll be back.
The lesson: while clichés are true and every category has them (think TV ads: cat weaving through its owners legs waiting for its food, eating chocolate with your eyes closed, shiny happy people drinking beer, cars weaving around orange cones) it’s important to go beyond the cliché and seek the story underneath.
Two more inches and Pete Carroll would have been called the greatest coach in the world.