Don't get me wrong.  I like to win.  But at what cost?  I like to consider myself a play by the rules kind of guy. 

If the express line is for 10 items or less and I have 11, I will go to another register.

If the parking spot up front is for "expectant mothers only" and it is the only spot left, I will not park there.  I will circle the lot until a space is available.

And if I were a middle linebacker for a football team, I would not jam my hand into an opponents eyes while he is laying on the ground.

That's just me...

I received my undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and I like to follow the football team.  This past weekend, in the midst of a big win over Georgia, came a small smear...

During a tackle, middle linebacker Brandon Spikes thought it would be a good idea to jam his fingers into the face of Washaun Ealey, the Georgia running back. (See the video here).

Spikes was suspended by his Coach Urban Meyer on Monday.  Here is what Urban had to say:

"I don't condone that," Meyer said. "I understand what goes on on the football [field], but there's no place for that. We're going to suspend Brandon for the first half of the Vanderbilt game. I spoke with him. That's not who he is. That's not who we are. He got caught up in emotion."

So what does this have to do with you as a leader?

Simple - it has to do with emotion!!

Our working gridiron is the conference room or the sales office.  While we may not shove our phalanges into our opponents melon, we still have ways that we may end up crossing the proverbial line.

What do we do?

We curse.  We yell.  We use inappropriate sarcasm.  We spread gossip.  We support rumors.  We lash out.

The corporate environment is a million worlds away from a football gridiron, but leaders can make stupid mistakes there as well - and they are also normally done in the heat of the battle.

So when your integrity is challenged, your tenacity questioned, or your helmet ripped off, think twice before you retailate.  It might keep you from getting suspended as well.

Oh, and by the way, Go Gators!