Pausing for the Week (3)

(image credit)

This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

Pausing for the Week (2)

(image credit)

This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

Pausing for the Week (1)

(image credit)

This week is my pause from blogging here, in order to focus more on my other work: Theory of Algorithms and The Core Algorithm.

What do you pause for, and how often do you do so?

NFL Locker Room a Microcosm of Society at Large

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

Reference: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross calls Ted Wells report 'disturbing'.

Bullying: What happened in the locker room is just a sampling of what happens in broader society. "Disturbing," definitely, Mr. Ross.  

The pull for the NFL and the front office of every team is to set stricter policy, police and enforce it, and otherwise castigate any perpetrator of bullying in the locker room.  Yes, bullying must be stopped.  But for the NFL to use its considerable might in its efforts to do so makes me think Are you kidding me, seriously?

Bullying or tormenting, prejudice and discrimination, and flat out hate and misconduct are the stuff of American culture and humankind in general.  So as with sports leagues and regulatory bodies' efforts to tamp out the use of Performance Enhancing Drugs, officials can control it only to some degree.  Unless the fundamental problem is adequately understood, and its causes sufficiently illuminated, it will persist and it will taunt any posturing of control that these officials do.    

Don't get me wrong: I believe policy must be reviewed, strengthened, and implemented.  But to believe, and expect, that it will resolve the issue is foolhardy.  These social problems have plagued American culture for decades and decades, so don't expect that the NFL will break from this long stretch of failure and suddenly be the paradigm of a tolerant, accepting organization.  

I suggest that each team promote dialogue among its players, coaches and personnel, and that the NFL provide whatever support and encouragement it can, in this effort.  This is not an easy thing, so teams are likely to need to confident, capable facilitators in that dialogue.  

The aim, first and foremost, is to seek to understand, before being understood.  Allow people's concerns, beliefs, attitudes and motives to surface.  

From that understanding, answers to how these issues can be resolved will emerge.  Misbehavior can be addressed accordingly within the private confines of each team's circle, again with NFL guidance and support.  

This will take a long time, and no doubt progress toward a more tolerant organization will be quite rocky.  For example, expect that the Incognito-Martin scandal will not be the last one.  

But the right mindset and approach will eventually resolve such issues.  

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Review and Reactions to Incognito-Martin Report

At the heels of the publication of the NFL report on February 15th 2014, I posted Incognito, others tormented Martin and following articles on Google+, and commented:

Incognito wasn't the only perpetrator, and Martin wasn't the only victim, in the Dolphins locker room.

Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin

Three starters on the Miami Dolphins' offensive line -- Richie Incognito, John Jerry and Mike Pouncey -- engaged in a "pattern of harassment" directed at Jonathan Martin, as well as another young offensive lineman and an assistant trainer.

Reference: Ted Wells releases Miami Dolphins misconduct report.

Tedy Bruschi and Darren Woodson react to Ted Wells' report about Jonathan Martin leaving the Dolphins because of harassment.

Reference: No Room for Bullying, Harassment.

Adam Schefter breaks down the impact of the Ted Wells' report on Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin's futures in the NFL.

Reference: NFL Futures for Incognito and Martin.

On the face of it, the report is most damning of Incognito, and his return to the NFL is in serious question.  ESPN Mike Golic, however, wondered if Martin would have the greater difficulty in resuming his career.  The fact that he walked out of the locker room is a major no-no among men of the gridiron.

I suspect, though, that when all the muck has settled, they will find roster spots on teams other than the Dolphins.  That is, if they truly want to, and if they convince prospective teams that they're willing and able to play football again.  American culture has a way of forgiving, if not forgetting, such scandals.  There is a measure of truth, then, in the old adage that time heals all wounds.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Richie Incognito is who we thought he is

Richie Incognito

I posted Incognito goes on Twitter tirade on Google+ on February 13th 2014, and commented, and it generated a bit of an exchange with a friend:

ESPN Michael Wilbon: Richie Incognito is who we thought he is... a creep! 

A creep, yes, but we still don't know the full story. Martin might be just as much of a creep, just a quieter one.

Exactly. We're supposed to get the investigation report soon.

It is taking an awfully long time. I wonder how it's being massaged?

If I remember correctly, the NFL stepped in, a few weeks after the story broke, and told the Dolphins owner to hold off on meeting Martin. The NFL is a marketing and political machine, and has the clout and cash to ensure that it remains so, for the long haul. The Incognito-Martin tale is far different from the players' concussion tragedy, but I think they're both socially explosive issues and therefore a threat to that machinery. "Massage" is a polite word, but it's the best one to use about what the NFL is probably doing with this investigation. All that said, the irony is, Incognito is right: The truth will come out in one way or another, and Martin will have to hold himself up to the public eye, too.

The very next day, on February 14th 2014, the NFL released its report.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD

Sports Teams Should Eschew Heavenly Names

New Orleans Saints

Los Angeles Angels

Dallas Stars

San Diego Padres

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago

Sports teams shouldn't, I don't know, have heavenly names.  Such  names should be reserved for churchly groups or activities, right.  Oh, by the way, I know St. Louis Cardinals refers to the bird, but it's also associated with the Archbishop of Chicago.

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think!

Ron Villejo, PhD