The Packers blown call: a lesson on integrity

Posted by: Alison Citti

Having lived in Wisconsin about 7 years ago, I noticed two things right away. The first is that Milwaukee is a city that does not get enough credit for how many great things it really has to offer. This is a great town, with gorgeous lake views, and truly fantastic people. A place where Midwest values, strong ethics, and the belief that working hard means never taking the easy way out are not just cliché’s, they are fundamentals of life. Some of my strongest friendships were born out of my time in Milwaukee and for more reasons than I will take the time to name here- I will always defend that place as if it were my own hometown.

The second outcome of my time in that region of the country is that I quickly became, and still am, a loyal Green Bay Packer fan. Most people who have worked with me over the years have come to know my near obsession with the Ohio State University Buckeyes. That is certainly still the case, however, having been a resident of the state of Wisconsin and not really having a favorite NFL team of my own when I lived in Wisconsin, left me quickly falling into the Packer fan base and I still cheer on the green and gold from Ohio each week.

If you have been following any news at all (not even specific to sports), you have heard all the controversy over the blown call made by referees in the Green Bay vs. Seattle game on 9/23 that cost the Packers a win that night. The situation was adverse as it gets – someone making a decision, the wrong decision, and the result affecting so many.

As I sat there staring at the TV in shock with the majority of others around the country, I was impressed to see how the Green Bay team handled themselves. They were forced to come back out on the field for a point after attempt (a process I am still not sure I understand) and they returned to the field with class and dignity while holding back what had to have been some extreme frustration and emotion.

Sure, there were stories about towels being thrown at the TV in the locker room, a couple of obscenities from players on twitter, but overall, the GB team just realized that this is the hand that they had been dealt and it was time to move on.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers came out to say that while he did not agree with the call, “I think one thing that we really learned from it is, as frustrating as it is, ultimately it’s a game judged by people who are imperfect, and there’s going to be mistakes.”

Well stated Aaron. Whether it is a ball game, a competition, a business decision, etc., people are imperfect, and there are going to be mistakes. The real measure of integrity is how you react, how you pick yourself and how you move forward. I wrote about something similar in a post early this year.

As difficult as that was to watch and deal with the fact that it cost the Packers the game, by the time this past Sunday’s game came back around, most Packer fans, myself included, were just ready to move on. It seemed nearly impossible to think there could be more blown calls a week later, but there were, this time by the professionals, and I am sure there will continue to be.

A good friend of mine once shared a quote with me that went, “One cannot control the actions of others-only the reaction to those actions.”

Whether it is your professional or personal relationships, there will be mistakes and there will be missed calls. The person usually remembered in the end is the one who chooses to take the high road and whose actions are something to be admired.