When it comes to crisis communications, you have to prepare for anything to happen at any time. You will either succeed at it or ultimately fail. And failure could mean the end. But sometimes, there are crises that no one, in their wildest dreams, could think of and ultimately, even you cannot decide what's best.
Such was the case this past Saturday, December 1st. News started rolling in that there was a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility and a player was shot. Soon, the news stated that the player was dead. And then, the truth was told- the player shot himself in front of the head coach and GM not long after killing his girlfriend (and the mother of his young baby).
Jovan Belcher was a 25-year old starting linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs. Many said he was a loving man and were shocked by the news. Starting QB Brady Quinn couldn't put the pieces together when the coach who witnessed the shooting brought the team together and told them later that day.
Although the tragedy was a shock itself, even more shocking was the decision for the Chiefs game to go on as scheduled and that Romeo Crennel, the head coach who saw Belcher shoot himself, would also be on the sidelines coaching.
I personally could not understand how the game could go on as scheduled. FOX Sports contributor Jason Whitlock also couldn't. He said himself that this was no time to play football and that Roger Goodell should have cancelled the game himself.
So, should they still have played?
The Kansas City Chiefs went on to have an emotional win yesterday against the Carolina Panthers. But, was it okay to celebrate, especially after one of their own killed someone and himself?
Ultimately, there's no right or wrong answer. Jovan Belcher was a Chief, but the Chiefs are not Jovan Belcher. The inner demons inside of this man do not define the Kansas City Chiefs. It was up to them personally with how to play the game. They played and they won and the ghost of Jovan Belcher definitely haunted them throughout the day.
Many people can be angry that the game was played because someone was killed by a player on that team. And many people can be scratching their heads as to why the coach still coached.
Ultimately, it was up to him. Maybe he just needed to forget about what he saw. He said he wouldn't be talking about it and we can't blame him. I don't know and I hope many don't know what it feels like to see what he saw. Romeo Crennel needs to move on and we must let him.
But what about the team themselves? Should they celebrate the victory? It was hard for many of them to celebrate, but what was the statement exactly? That we move on from tragedy and overcome?
Something like this is hard and there's never going to be an answer. For the Chiefs, they played the game they loved for the fans who love them without their linebacker. It was their coach's call and that's what he wanted- to play the game. So maybe, they won for him, to help him heal from what he witnessed and could not stop.
The best thing for the Kansas City Chiefs to do is let go of Jovan Belcher. Support his family and daughter but let go of him. Let the police do what they need to do with this case and keep playing football.
Normalcy is the best medicine in the wake of tragedy. The Chiefs did what they needed to do. People will argue for days, maybe weeks, as to whether they did the right thing. Yes, two people are dead and a child is parent-less. The NFL needs to help support her. The Chiefs need to keep playing ball. And we all need to hope that one day, something like this will never happen again.
