Last month Tom Brady stepped into controversy when he compared his profession to war.

“I almost look at ... a football season like you’re going away on deployment in the military, and it’s like, ‘Man, here I go again.’ There’s only one way to do it.”

For a QB who has become legendary for his attention to detail, Brady was horribly sloppy on that one. Frankly, it was offensive to many service members and their families. He later apologized for the gaffe and said there is no comparison between the sacrifice of our military and what athletes do. Period. 

Two weeks ago we honored those more than 16.5 million Americans who have served in the military, men and women who gave years of their life – and many gave much more more – to win and preserve our freedoms. Then last week we gathered around dining tables with our families to give thanks for things big and small in our lives, thanks in large part to the men and women who have served.

So when we kick off the 65th annual Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer & Dance Championships this Saturday in Orlando we will start our competitions with the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

And we will hopefully feel gratitude as we prepare to watch hundreds of boys and girls from small towns and big cities, from every corner of the country, enjoy perhaps the greatest week of their sporting life. It is here where their hard work from August through November will pay dividends as they compete to become national champion. They arrived as a team that includes not just their teammates but coaches and family who supported and guided them. Together, they worked toward a cause bigger than one individual.  

As Brady noted in his apology, football is not remotely like being deployed. But it is because of those who did serve that we have the opportunity for an amazing week ahead.

Thanks,

Jon Butler