Psych Tid Bits-


Teddy Bruschi’s decision to return to the playing field after suffering a stroke should not be viewed as a surprise to anyone. If you were caught off guard (or linebacker) by his decision, you are probably not a football fan, or have not experienced a feeling that allows your cognitions to be overridden by emotions, and personal need. Many divorcees should be able to identify with this!

The thrill of the camaraderie, the high of the hit, and the competition among other things, all contribute to players putting themselves at risk in what can be minimally described as a violent game. Clinically, it appears to border on a form of emotional addiction.

The litany of professional football players that are walking around maimed is too long to list, yet the vast majority state that they would do it all again! It seems belonging to the club carriers a lot of status. One way to look at it is that someone has to play, or else where would we all be? Talk about emotional Sunday addictions!

Bruschi’s decision to return also speaks to the nature of our relationships with our spouses. These relationships are complex and are subjective in terms of what makes couples and individuals happy. Keep in mind there is a Mrs. Bruschi and two children. Two fatherless children and a widow, is it worth the risk?

Michelle Wie a cheat? As you know at sixteen some teens have a tendency to exaggerate. Looks like Wie did by a foot when she took what was deemed an illegal drop in her first professional tournament. By all accounts it was a mistake.

Wie at the tender age of sixteen, looks like a future champion golfer. When she speaks, she comes across exactly just like the sixteen year-old she is. We often expect, our young champions to have the same emotional maturity level as their skill level. Let’s hope we do not expect this of Wie, she is simply not yet up to it. She is after all, just a kid.

A perfect example of a discrepancy between ability and emotional maturity was an eighteen year-old John McEnroe standing on Centre Court having displayed horrific behaviors on his way to winning. Problem was McEnroe never stopped displaying these behaviors on the court until he retired. Some would say he still has not stopped. For some, the gap between skill level and emotional maturity never closes.

This Blog is an open forum—I assume we all have our helmets on, but keep the hits clean. Post to your hearts’ content.