In case you didn’t know, I’m from Massachusetts. That makes me a Red Sox and Patriots fan. Now yesterday might have been one of the worst days to be a Boston sports fan in recent memory, if not ever. So I don’t want to talk about it. Since the Red Sox season is now over, let’s talk football.
In football there are three main areas of the game: offense, defense and special teams. Now any true football fan knows that you need to be solid in all three areas in order to have a good season. If you had to rank in order of importance, how would you? Most people would probably put special teams as the least important. Special teams doesn’t usually win you games, though it can. For you local guys, Holliston’s Kevin Curry scored on a 75-yard punt return and a 70-yard kickoff return and set up another touchdown with a 42-yard punt return (compliments of the MetroWest Daily News). Now I would just not kick the ball to him but that’s just me. The game ended up being decided by a field goal. You could definitely say special teams won that game.
The big debate is usually over offense and defense. The age old saying in football is that “offense wins games, defense wins championships”. Or there is some variation of this. But what do the fans want? What are the fun things about the game? There are usually a few great hits, a couple of sacks and an interception or two to cheer about but there is always more noise for touchdowns. People pay to see touchdowns. Everyone that’s ever heard of football pretty much knows what a touchdown is and they know when to cheer.
In your financial world we have growth, protection and savings. Savings is the special teams. It’s the stuff that can make or break a game for you if you let it. But as long as you play solid special teams everyone just sort of forgets about it except the special teams coach. Remember what sells tickets? It’s growth. Everyone loves it. They cheer for it. They get pumped about growing their money. How much did that stock go up today? That’s what people want to see. That’s what people pay for. The defense or protection is just there in case. No one really pays too much attention unless something big happens. Hopefully nothing does and you can just root for that growth.
Just as in football you need a full team approach to your financial world. Make sure all three areas are well coached and well prepared. Remember though, in football there is a separate coach for each area. Do you have that? Could it help you? Everyone loves to chase the growth. Maybe you’ve learned from the down market? It’s kind of the equivalent to Tom Brady blowing out his knee in the first game. Luckily they are a well coached and well rounded team so they still had a pretty decent season even without the best offense in the history of the NFL. In Superbowl XLII it was the defense that won the championship for the Giants beating the best offense ever. In your financial world, are you focused on your offense (growth)? Is your defense (protection) just enough to get by? Or do you have a championship defense? Remember, “Growth gives you a great year; defense gives you a legacy.” What do you think? I just came up with that one on my own. Don’t get caught up in all the offense the companies are selling you in their ads, take sometime to make sure you defense is going to help you get there.
For you football fans A Giant reminder: Best offense is a good defense
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Great post, I’m a huge fan of sports analogies. I once read a NY Times article comparing A-Rod with the war in Iraq (stay the course or pull out?)
I feel your disappointment as a fellow MA native and Pats fan, but as a lifelong Yankee fan, I can handle a football loss when the Red Sox get knocked out. Don’t you just wish you had Teixeira?
If offense wins games and defense wins championships..it looks like the Yankees combination of hitting and pitching sohuld bring them deep into the playoffs.
Pitching and defense aren’t always sexy, like you said, but which people are feeling the hurt the most right now? The flashy wide receivers or the quiet offensive line?
Vinatieri was clearly an important part of the championship teams. But the key to their success? Lonnie Paxton. Without him, where would we be? You don’t always need to make headlines to get solid returns.
Remember “chicks dig the long ball” Yankees are in great shape right now. It should be a good match up. I give the Angels the edge in pitching. They are two different types of hitting teams though. The Yankees have the power and the Angels play more of the small ball.
Thank you for your comment. I’m choosing not to respond to the other things you have said. I hope you understand.