Loyalty is a virtue that people admire. Everyone looks at guys like Carl Yazstremsik, Brett Farve and Archie Manning with admiration thinking, These guys are among the greatest representatives of their chose professions and could have gone on to other organizations to make considerably more money, but they were loyal to their fans and their respective teams. We admire that in a person, don’t we? I know I do.
As much as we would like to think that such loyalty is rewarded, unfortunately, in this day and time, it rarely ever is. The days of working for “Greyhound” for 30 years and getting awards up to and including a handsome retirement package with a pension for the rest of your life have pretty much gone by the wayside. The best that you can hope for in these modern times is a company that will match some of the money that you put into their 401K program, unless you are one of the fortunate people who is able to leverage your way into a top level management position with an iron clad golden parachute contract.
Unfortunately most companies have their eyes firmly fixed on the “bottom line”, and regardless of how loyal you have been or how hard you have worked for the company, if cutbacks are necessary and you are expendable in their eyes, there is a good chance that you could unceremoniously get kicked in the ass on your way out the door.
As much as we would like to think that such loyalty is rewarded, unfortunately, in this day and time, it rarely ever is. The days of working for “Greyhound” for 30 years and getting awards up to and including a handsome retirement package with a pension for the rest of your life have pretty much gone by the wayside. The best that you can hope for in these modern times is a company that will match some of the money that you put into their 401K program, unless you are one of the fortunate people who is able to leverage your way into a top level management position with an iron clad golden parachute contract.
Unfortunately most companies have their eyes firmly fixed on the “bottom line”, and regardless of how loyal you have been or how hard you have worked for the company, if cutbacks are necessary and you are expendable in their eyes, there is a good chance that you could unceremoniously get kicked in the ass on your way out the door.
One of my most vivid memories was in a 1972 news conference watching Archie Manning openly weeping after being informed that his beloved New Orleans Saints had traded him in mid season to the Houston Oilers after eleven years of breaking his back trying to make a winner out of a club that obviously had no intentions of trying to build one. Archie played a few more years before obscurely retiring in the 1984 season with the Minnesota Vikings.
The point is that Archie, who was probably the most gifted quarterback of his time, if not all time and would have been content to finish out his career with a worthless, piece of crap team because he was LOYAL.
I’ve seen many instances where a team or company fired or traded away someone who was very loyal only to find that they had made a mistake when that person landed on his feet somewhere else and made it his life’s mission to “stick it” up the offending party’s ass. This is the risk that companies take when they let personal feelings and emotions cause them to make decisions where a little level-headed logic and compassion might have helped them to make a better decision.
Unfortunately for Archie, the Saints waited until he was beat to hell from all of the abuse that he had to endure playing behind a weak offensive line, past his prime and was unable to come back and bite them in the ass before they made their move. I can tell you that many fans, including myself were very upset at the Saints organization for doing what they did to Archie and some still hold a grudge to this day.
On a better note, recent events will attest to the fact that Archie had the last laugh when he was able to dip into the family gene pool and sire two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to come back and embarrass the Saints organization as often as possible. Both have gone on to lead their respective teams to NFL Superbowl wins.
I can envision Archie sitting in his recliner watching each of his sons play in his media room with his oversized high definition flat screen television set on split-screen, smoking a big Cuban cigar and sipping on an expensive single-malt scotch, all alone, being the unassuming person that he is with a content, satisfied grin on his face.
The point is that Archie, who was probably the most gifted quarterback of his time, if not all time and would have been content to finish out his career with a worthless, piece of crap team because he was LOYAL.
I’ve seen many instances where a team or company fired or traded away someone who was very loyal only to find that they had made a mistake when that person landed on his feet somewhere else and made it his life’s mission to “stick it” up the offending party’s ass. This is the risk that companies take when they let personal feelings and emotions cause them to make decisions where a little level-headed logic and compassion might have helped them to make a better decision.
Unfortunately for Archie, the Saints waited until he was beat to hell from all of the abuse that he had to endure playing behind a weak offensive line, past his prime and was unable to come back and bite them in the ass before they made their move. I can tell you that many fans, including myself were very upset at the Saints organization for doing what they did to Archie and some still hold a grudge to this day.
On a better note, recent events will attest to the fact that Archie had the last laugh when he was able to dip into the family gene pool and sire two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time to come back and embarrass the Saints organization as often as possible. Both have gone on to lead their respective teams to NFL Superbowl wins.
I can envision Archie sitting in his recliner watching each of his sons play in his media room with his oversized high definition flat screen television set on split-screen, smoking a big Cuban cigar and sipping on an expensive single-malt scotch, all alone, being the unassuming person that he is with a content, satisfied grin on his face.
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