The Hazing of Dez

That’s right sports freaks, two posts today.  This is a topic I didn’t talk about in the first one because it’s a story that needs analyzing, and frankly, a day without sports analysis is like a day without sunshine.

Now, as a member of the Army and as a member of a fraternity in college, I feel like I am an expert when it comes to hazing.  Dez Bryant refused to carry the shoulder pads of Roy Williams at Cowboys training camp.  In the grand scheme of life, it’s not a big deal…but for someone who firmly believes there is a place for hazing, I was shocked by the fact that Dez Bryant refused to carry shoulder pads.

Now, like I said, I’ve been there, done that.  I’ve eaten a combination of baked beans, coffee grounds, hot sauce, lucky charms, and whiskey.  I’ve hooked up with a sheep!!  And why did I do it?  Because I was new and felt the need to belong.  You have to earn your spot, and earn respect.  Short of committing a crime, or blood or death rituals, hazing brings people together, gives them a common bond.

You see, it’s not about the one being hazed.  It’s not about Dez Bryant, it’s about coming together as one, and respecting those that came before you.

There are those that would like to cut all alcoholic events out of the corporate world, or the Army.  I believe that is wrong.  There is a place for folks to get together, have a couple beers, a couple heart to heart talks, and grow closer as a team.  Shared hardships lead to shared respect, and a caring for each other.  Now, one might argue that there’s a big difference between the battlefields of Afghanistan and the, “I love Jerry Jones Stadium”…and that person would be right.  Sports are a business and one were players change teams often.  But in football more than any other sport, all 11 players on each side of the ball have to be in sync.  They have to work in unison, and they have to know that the guy next to them is going to have their back, especially with football because it’s such a violent sport.

So Dez, shut up and carry the damn equipment.  You have the potential to be a great receiver.  You didn’t play last year because of your association with Deion Sanders, so really, you have a lot to prove.  You can start by carrying these shoulder pads.  Hey, look on the bright side, it’s better than this sheep.