When winning awards and trophies do you have the right to display them any way you want even if it means crossing the line?
A. Yes…it’s the participant’s hard work and dedication that led to the victory.
B. No it represents the sport or business not the individual.
And the battle begins…
Olympic medalist snowboarder Scott Lago is headed home from the Winter Olympics because U.S. officials have called a photograph of him holding his bronze medal below his bare belly button for a girl to kiss too racy—it doesn’t represent this nation’s high standards and extremely firm commitment toward being world leaders in good manors and morally perfect ethics.
On the other side of the fence, fans of the outrageously wild lifestyle of snowboarding believe athletes train non-stop morning, noon and night…once the job has been completed a little letting go is acceptable. Nobody says anything about their bodies being covered with tattoos…it’s been accepted as art. All things should be accepted including wild antics.
I’m having flashbacks of the 72 Summer Olympics when three American’s raised their fists in the air to show solidarity and officials believed it supported the Black Panthers.
What if Michael Phelps had been wearing gold medals while smoking pot in South Carolina? Can you set aside your awards to participate in a little humanism?
When Henry Hank Aaron slammed his record setting homerun why wasn’t Olympic runner Bruce Jenner chastised for leaping out of the stands and getting totally out of control as he rounded the bases with the homerun king?
Awards and trophies are extremely touchy subjects—OJ Simpson was forced to sell his Heisman Trophy to help pay off debts created by crimes he allegedly committed. If it had been an Oscar, that hunk of metal would’ve been lifted from the buyer’s hands and placed in a vault owned and operated by Hollywood. At no time can an actor, director, producer or family member sell or trade an Oscar—it belongs to the academy until the end of time.
At Martial Arts University our belts are looked upon as being a representation of knowledge and at no time are they to touch the floor, they will not to be worn around our necks, as head bands or to be set aside like a book or carrying bag. Master Harris clearly states that every step we take in the school and outside in the real world represents his leadership and if we elect to make bad choices it’s a reflection on him…therefore you will be punished by him.
When does winning an award make it yours to keep?
It’s always going to be your medal or trophy. They aren’t taking away Scott Lago’s bronze medal. Coaches and staff members chose to make an example of him by firmly planting a seed not only in the mindset of current athletes but every child who wishes to one day become a member of the dream team—you’ll walk with pride and honor before, during and after or face the consequences.
There’s a standard that must be met and if not properly played out, it affects and infects those following your dreams of becoming an award winner.
Princess Di’s youngest song Harry was blasted worldwide for attending a Halloween costume party dressed as a German soldier from WWII. On the flip side of the coin Johnny Depp was arrested for completely destroying a hotel room and nothings been said since. Charlie Sheen put the highly rated television show Two In a Half Men on the line when he was busted for allegedly taking his anger out in ways that are unacceptable. Mickey Rourke and Robert Downey Jr. have seen the four walls of a prison cell many times and they’re still working. We won’t even talk about Michael Vick.
Should Olympic bronze medalist Scott Lago be sent home for having too much of a good time, I mean come on…he’s a snowboarder and being wild like a rock star is their Hip Hop way of expressing. Or should U.S. official look a different direction and pretend seeing photos of him having women kiss the medal below his belly button didn’t take place?
How do you feel when fans wreak havoc on towns after winning national championships? Don’t they too represent the team and or individual who was named best of the year? When Ohio State picked up the college crown, fans turned that town upside down. What made the Saints winning the Super Bowl fun was the accepted feeling that Mardi Gras was getting started a little earlier than normal.
Is there truly an invisible line you aren’t supposed to cross? Shouldn’t such a line be made visible by laying out the ground rules? In martial arts those rules are presented before every class: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit.
At the end of every class we lay out the Ten Articles of Student Commitment: Be loyal to your country, honor your parents, be loving between husband and wife, be cooperative between brothers and sisters, be faithful to your friends, be respectful of your elders, establish trust between teacher and student, use good judgment before killing living things, never retreat in battle, always finish what you start.
The rules of martial arts are extremely tough reaching beyond the belts that represent our knowledge…don’t ever let me catch you eating or chewing gum while wearing your Do Bok (uniform). If you fail to salute the flag the moment your feet touch the mat, noise will be made. Total focus in class requires no words. You don’t come to class to practice, you arrive to learn. The moment you step into the school…there is no other life.
Not all schools abide by the same rules…if I fall witness to something I’ve been taught is wrong…showing respect to my school I look to the floor rather than challenge the master of that establishment. Upon completion of the visit, I invite the Master to my school with high hopes of them falling witness to our traditions.
If Scott Lago didn’t want the world to know that he’d be hanging his bronze medal below his belly button he should’ve pasted a giant sign to the front door that read: No cell phones or camera’s allowed.
We are living the age of Big Brother...it isn't the government messing up lives its your best friend or an innocent passerby.
arroecollins@clearchannel.com
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