Underpromise and Overdeliver
One of the most compelling storylines within the world of sports over the past few years has been the ascension of Deion Sanders to the position of Head Football Coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. Nicknamed “Prime Time,” for his athletic prowess on the field and his charisma off of it, the two-time Super Bowl winner is a member of both the College and Professional Football Halls of Fame. Since his arrival as the Buffaloes head coach, Sanders presence has galvanized the team, the university, and the city of Boulder. Not only has the football team improved its win-loss ratio, but ticket and merchandise sale have exploded, and applications for admission to the college (especially from African American students) have skyrocketed.
But despite all of the opinions that have shared, articles that have been written, and interviews that have been conducted dissecting the various dimensions of Sanders and his impact on Colorado and college athletics, very few have highlighted what in my estimation is his most significant contribution. Although his contributions to Colorado as a coach may be incredible, the example he is setting as a father is remarkable. Sanders is a living contradiction to the perverse, persistent, and pathetic stereotype that African American men are absent, irresponsible and uncaring Fathers. Being a Father is difficult. Being a Coach is even more difficult. The pressure of playing both roles on a public stage is enormous. If nothing else, Sanders should be celebrated for the effort.
During his tenure as Colorado, Sanders coached his two sons from his second marriage, Shilo and Shadeur. Both of them were drafted to play in the National Football League. His son Shlio was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His son Shadeur was drafted by the Cleveland Browns. On August 23, his son Shilo was ejected from a pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills for throwing a punch. Days later Shilo was cut, and cleared waivers, meaning that no other team has expressed an interest in him joining their team.
Although Sanders is no longer his son’s coach, he has not stopped being his Father. In the midst of the conversation concerning his son’s future, the Father gave his son some great advice. He posted it on X (formerly Twitter). Here is what he said:
As a father, reading this post was music to my ears. Here is a Father telling a son to man up. Here is a father correcting his son in real time on a global stage. Here is a Father giving his son some advice that will help him both on the football field and off. Bravo!
I am sure that Shilo is embarrassed, disappointed and hurt that he was cut. And whenever things don’t go the way we anticipated, it is easy to shake our fists at the system, rail against injustice, and clap-back at our critics. All of this is, as Deion reminds his son, unhelpful and unnecessary. Instead, the Father implores his his son to get to work. Underpromise and overdeliver! Don’t overpromise and underdeliver!
On one occasion, Jesus was invited to visit a man’s home whose daughter was near death. En route to Jairus’s house, his daugther died. A contingent from Jairus’s house met them and advised that it was no longer necessary for Jesus to come. It was too late. The daughter had died. When Jesus heard their prognostication, he encouraged Jairus to believe. Who or what to believe was not specified. At no point did Jesus tell anyone what he was planning to do. When they finally arrived at the house, it was filled with commotion. The sacred writer describes the scene:
When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat. Mark 5:38-42
At no point did Jesus respond to any of critics. At no point did Jesus telegraph his intentions. At no point did Jesus discuss his plan. He just went to work. The dead girl was raised. And when it was all over, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone! Jesus underpromised and overdelivered.
Stop airing commercials about your intentions. Stop airing commercials about the injustices that you have suffered, and the haters that keep holding you down, back, or up. Stop airing commercials about what happened.
Get to work. Be about it. And don’t say nothing about it! (I know that the proper word is “anything,” but ebonically and sonically, “nothing” seemed more appropriate. LOL)