Team Rebuilding - Overrated

The 2013 Washington Redskins
The 2013 and every year New England Patriots
The 2013 Kentucky Wildcats Men's Basketball Team
The 2013 Baltimore Ravens
The 2013 Boston Bruins
The 2013 Chicago Blackhawks
Draft excuses

Really, the list could continue in this debatable issue. Using "rebuilding" as an excuse for a team's poor performance is unacceptable. Please, no "yea-butting".

Teams
But, rebuilding is overrated. The Washington Redskins were 10-6 last year, won the NFC East, and made the playoffs. I am convinced that they would have beaten Seattle with a healthy Robert Griffin, III. This year's status so far: 3-9, will not win the NFC East, and will not make the playoffs. Are they in a rebuilding year? No.

The New England Patriots lose players to either injury, release, or trades every year. Yet, every year they are a legit threat to, one, make the playoffs, and to go to or win the Super Bowl. You can argue that. Do they focus on rebuilding as an excuse and tank seasons? No.

The Kentucky Wildcats won the NCAA title in 2012. They missed the tournament in 2013. Now, they are a top-ranked team again. Do they focus on the rebuilding excuse? No.

The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII. Their leader and team motivator in Ray Lewis retired after the game. The Ravens

shopped away most of their
stellar defense. Now, the Ravens, expected to be bad this season, are in contention to make the playoffs. Do they focus on the rebuilding excuse? No.

The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup in 2011. They were ousted in the first round a year later. In 2013 they competed for the Cup again but lost. Now, they are one of the best teams in the league this season. Do they focus on the rebuilding excuse? No.

The Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010. They shopped away most of their forwards. The next season they were abysmal. In 2013 they won the Stanley Cup again, beating the Bruins. Now, they, too, are among the league's best teams. Do they focus on the rebuilding excuse? No.

Moves
Draft excuses. If you are not familiar with sports, which give plenty of life lessons. Yes, there is an intellectual component to athletics; but many dumb things occur. Plus, there is a lot of over zealousness from fans and media. Many fans, players, and owners of and on teams think that teams should tank seasons in order to receive a better draft pick. That is, they are relying on a rookie who has no pro experience to be their knight. Whether you are a sports fan or not, you can relate this feature to your work. For example, with dwindling financial results or even fundraising attendance results at your firm or organization would look at what you have and try to fix it or simply give up and hire a professional rookie to solve the issues, knowing that you actually might have some tools to bounce half way back? There are still big question marks with the rookie.

Thinking of a team...when was the last team in any of the four major professional sports (baseball, basketball, football, and ice hockey) to win a championship because they relied on the draft and that draftee had an immediate impact on the title run? I cannot think of one either. A "rebuilding" team may make the playoffs and get out of the cellar. But, the goal of playing these sports is more than just making playoffs. Every team should always vie to win the championship despite the inadequacies of their roster!

So, why do teams, managers, owners, fans, commentators, and others like to dwell on rebuilding and tanking seasons if they know that this hold out method does not work? All of these teams above use what they have. They work to win. They work smarter not dumber. They know their team and players. Why on earth would a professional athlete not want to put forth the effort to win a championship despite being on a mediocre-looking roster as it only APPEARS?...Besides money being a factor.

We can end it there.

With heart,
Derek

Derek Arledge, CSCS         www.teempt.com         TEEM Performance Training