The Home Team

It is Football and Hockey season and we love to root for the home team. We get mad when our team is not playing well and we cheer when our team does well. Sometimes we get a little animated when we are watching the game. I was on a plane heading to Fla. I was listening the Ravens game, they scored a touchdown and I said (a little too loud) YES with a fist pump! This caused my wife to look at me as if I was her 3^rd child that spilled cherry Kool Aid on the carpet. My actions garnered looks from the other passengers. I had to quickly explain the Ravens just scored the passengers seemed to understand, as did my wife. My 11 year old daughter reminded me that the Ravens can’t hear you even when you yell. I did contain my disgust (barely) when the touchdown was overturned. As officers we need to show the same passion when our home team (firefighters) does well or not so good. As a Lieutenant your home team is the apparatus you are riding. As a Captain your home team is your station and as a Chief Officer your home team is your Battalion. You need to praise your team when they do well and be strong enough to call out your team when they are not performing well. A team that is working well together with a strong coach (officer) will win the game and be ready for the next game (job)! Remember your team can hear you when you cheer them on.