Respect… what is it, and where does it come from?

Rob Hammersmith
Tuesday July 3, 2007

I was taught that sometimes there are people that one should automatically respect, like police officers, firemen, and those serving in the armed forces. Though I may know nothing at all about such a person, their service commands an automatic respect. 

But then there is the other kind of respect… that which is earned. A person earns one’s respect based on many types of attributes, like what they’ve accomplished, their capability, or their integrity. But the bottom line is they’ve earned such respect from people who know them. Such respect can be gained, as well as lost. 

The Columbus Destroyers franchise has been around for nine years now, five in Buffalo and four in Columbus. And during that time they’ve done nothing to earn respect from around the league. They’ve been the “also rans’, the “easy win”, the “break in the middle of a tough set of games”, etc… 

But did things just change? Did the Destroyers just show someone, “Hey, we’re no longer here just to make your team look better”? Not only did they, but for the second season in a row, the Destroyers ended the AFL’s more storied franchise’s post season aspirations in the process. 

Last year, the Tampa Bay Storm came to Columbus in the 2nd to last week of the season. Both clubs were fighting for a final playoff spot. The winner would continue that fight into the final week. The loser would be eliminated from playoff contention. The Storm was sent home by the Destroyers having failed to make the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. 

You’d think the Storm would have had a grudge to fill. Opportunity for payback isn’t something that comes along frequently. But the Storm didn’t seem to have any such agenda at all as they faced the Destroyers in the first round of the 2007 AFL playoffs. Why not?

One can only assume it was because of the Destroyer’s reputation. The Destroyers are push overs. They’re an easy win. They’re a means to an end. The bottom line is you don’t hold a grudge against a team for which you have no respect. 

And maybe it’s the lack of respect for the Destroyers that led to the Storm’s demise this weekend. The Destroyers for the second season in a row ended the Storm’s post season hopes with a 56-55 victory in Tampa Bay. 

Now, the Storm and their fans have to be kicking themselves. How did this happen again, and on the Storm’s home field of all places? What it comes down to is lack of focus. One can’t completely focus on a team that they don’t have respect for. That’s the underlying principal of how upsets happen. 

So a little advice for the rest of the league… Respect for the Columbus Destroyers isn’t a bad thing. You aren’t going to be laughed at for having respect for the Destroyers. In fact, it’s in your best interests to respect the Destroyers. It will keep you focused. It will ensure you complete any payback that you owe to them. 

Will the Destroyers ever be the best in the AFL? That’s hard to say. But until that day, the Destroyers have shown they can be a team that you don’t want to face with your post season on the line. Just ask Tim Marcum.  

So what about Dallas? Will they respect the Destroyers? I’m pretty sure they will. I’m sure they still haven’t forgotten how they allowed Columbus to post a 30 point lead on them back in April. Dallas is arguably the most focused team in the AFL this year, and they won’t soon look past Columbus.  

To call this next game against Dallas “David versus Goliath” would be old and rehashed text. The story has been far more than abused in the sports realm over the decades. And honestly, it just doesn’t fit. 

A better title for this game is “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde versus Goliath”. Because who knows which version of the Destroyers will show up to play Dallas. If the team that has played the past two weeks shows up, Dallas may find to have their hands full. But if those “other” Destroyers show up, it could end up being a very embarrassing day for Columbus.