Last night the Atlanta Braves (baseball team) lost a game to the San Francisco Giants. Not only did it bring their season to an abrupt end, but it was the final game for their long-time manager, Bobby Cox. After 29 years as a major league skipper -- 25 years with the Braves -- the 69 year old Cox retired.
As has become all too typical when sports stars hang it up, Cox had to fight back tears at the press conference after the game. Like so many others before him, he apologized for the strong emotion.
Bobby, I got news for you: It's okay to cry!
It doesn't matter if you're a celebrity, sports star, political leader, teacher, shoe salesman or janitor. When you've given your life to a particular profession and/or company and the time comes to say goodbye, it's natural for the occasion to be an emotional one. For a lot of people, their occupation is part of their identity and, by retiring, they are jettisoning part of who they are.
Of course, in the world of sports, machismo always is on display. So many men think that tears make them look weak. In my book, tears make them more human.
So Bobby, here's to you and your storied managerial career. Don't be ashamed of the tears. All it really means is that you care and caring is not a bad thing at all.
As has become all too typical when sports stars hang it up, Cox had to fight back tears at the press conference after the game. Like so many others before him, he apologized for the strong emotion.
Bobby, I got news for you: It's okay to cry!
It doesn't matter if you're a celebrity, sports star, political leader, teacher, shoe salesman or janitor. When you've given your life to a particular profession and/or company and the time comes to say goodbye, it's natural for the occasion to be an emotional one. For a lot of people, their occupation is part of their identity and, by retiring, they are jettisoning part of who they are.
Of course, in the world of sports, machismo always is on display. So many men think that tears make them look weak. In my book, tears make them more human.
So Bobby, here's to you and your storied managerial career. Don't be ashamed of the tears. All it really means is that you care and caring is not a bad thing at all.
I agree with you. It's OK to cry. But I wouldn't want to cry in front of TV cameras, knowing that the clip will be showed for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI hope Cox doesn't mind watching himself cry on TV for the rest of his life.
I think of him as an awesome coach, BTW.