Yankees Mickey Mantle: superstar. Joe Pepitone: not. Randy Moss:?

Mickey Mantle. Joe Pepitone. Two players on the NY Yankees in the early to mid 60’s. They roomed together one spring training and were not known for early bed times. One very late night led to the two waking up very late, with a spring training game scheduled that morning. Mantle, with a lot of experience in these matters, arranged for a limo and the two arrived in style at the field. Well, until the door opened and the two stumbled out, falling on the ground as they tried to dress.

What happened next you ask? Mantle got the day off, dozing his hang over off on the bench. Pepitone? Yeah, not so much. A full nine innings in the hot sun at first base.  The difference? Mantle hit 536 homeruns in a Hall of Fame career. Pepitone hit 219.

Superstars have always gotten preferential treatment. And this isn’t just in sports. The top sales rep in the company gets away with the same things that get the guy in the mail room fired.

Fast forward to October 29, 2010. A bonding team dinner for the Minnesota Vikings.  Gus Tunicci was probably thrilled to be chosen to cater the weekly dinner for the Vikes. Until Moss sauntered up to the buffet. “What the ****! Who ordered this ****? I wouldn’t feed this ****ing **** to my dog”.

Life is looking at upsides and deciding if they are worth the downsides. In sales being over quota and over budget was accepted. Under quota and over budget? Didn’t go over nearly as well. Successful people get some chips to use, favors to call in.

Did Moss get waived by the Vikings because of his rant showed him to be a complete jerk? No. Moss got waived because his feeble performance on the field didn’t give him enough chips in his pocket to be a complete jerk. Once upon a time his pocket was filled with chips that convinced his employers to look the other way. No chips, no job. Moss found out what it’s like t