Super Bowl Week: Media Day

One of the busiest days during Super Bowl is Media Day. Its an opportunity for the media craze surrounding the NFL championship to be let loose and to go crazy. All sorts of questions are asked, last year Tom Brady was even proposed to on Media Day, and it can be quite a distraction for the players trying to focus on the game. After 16 to 17 weeks of a consistent work schedule and game days on Sundays, Super Bowl Week can be a difficult road block to the focus and preparation for the “Big Game”.

Aaron Smith, defensive end for the favored Steelers, said today that, “I think it does put a little bit of pressure, but it’s a good pressure to motivate you and drive you to do the best you can possibly do.” Its interesting that he states that the various pressures actually have a positive affect in motivating the players to be successful.

Often times we view pressures or stress as a completely negative force. When our schedules change and plans are adjusted, myself in particular, I have a hard time in adjusting to those changes and having a positive attitude. Those extra pressures seem to sometimes push me into the ‘over-stressed’ mode and my production throughout the day usually slows down. I like Aaron Smith’s quote because it helped me realize that those stresses that occur in the every day rythm of life can be used as a positive force instead of a negative one. With the proper attitude, I can channel that energy into being more productive in the change of plans or new adjustments.

Both the Steelers and the Cardinal’s success on Sunday will be based largely upon how they respond to the unexpected and how they deal with the obstacles they will inevitably face. Will they fold or be overwhelmed? Will they respond and rise above the obstacles? What will you do when stresses are thrown at you?