Hide the Gatorade - I watched the bowl games over the holidays and with every winning team, the inevitable happened – dumping the Gatorade on the winning coach. Now the first time they did this it was kind of funny. But by now, isn’t it getting a little tired? Maybe after Hall of Fame coach George Allen died from the “ice water on head” treatment, we should have retired it. But it lives on – even outlasting The Wave.

What is more concerning, though, is the subtle change in society that this represents. In the “old” days, when our leaders marched us to victory, we honored them. Remember Vince Lombardi (and many other coaches) being carried off on the shoulders of the players. “We are victorious and this is our great leader!!” But now we want to reward victory with humiliation. We win the game, and then we douse our coach with freezing cold water. Students improve their reading skills and we have the principal shave his head or dress up like a chicken. Company profits skyrocket and we have a party and allow employees to throw cream pies at the executives (this actually happened at a company where I worked). What has happened to us that causes us to reward achievement with humiliation? What insecurity do we have that manifests the need to “bring people down” when they are both successful and are on our team?
You can opt out of this positive equals negative scenario. When something good happens, treat it like something good. Quash the suggestion to make fun of somebody and counter with honor and respect. When you can’t avoid being around the “humbling” scenario, don’t take part in it. Offer a towel and a high five instead. Lead by positive example. Make it your pledge that when you succeed, you will hide the Gatorade and open the champagne.