Chamberlain or Churchill?

"Real leaders aren't afraid of sharing truth bombs" - Futurist Jim Carroll

The world is in the midst of a massive shift in geopolitical alignments and global alliances.

While we all watch - often helplessly - as the future unravels at a furious pace, we see not just the big trends, but the minor acts in a play that should never be underway. Like it or not, amid the big trends, various groups and individuals suddenly often find themselves having to take a stand, plant a flag in the ground, and state their views.

Which brings us to the world of sports.

Like it or not, various sports figures and leaders are suddenly in the new and challenging position of having to take a stance. This is leading to new and challenging situations - sports has found itself caught up not only in the culture wars but playing a role in global politics. This reality needs to be carefully managed - because anyone can now find themselves in a moment in which their reality unravels in an instant. That being the case, a very good friend of mine sees this disruptive reality as an opportunity, now getting more involved in the world of sports crisis communication management. I see a wonderfully bright future for him - he works in the field of PR - because there is going to be an acceleration of communication issues to deal with involving rapidly emerging sports crises!

This brings me to Jesse Marsch, an American professional soccer coach, who is now the Head Coach of the Canada men's national soccer team - and now Canada's newest national hero. He was asked the other day at a communications event for his views on the situation that currently involves the bizarre idea of 'annexing Canada.' (Keep in mind that previous talk of annexation occurred during World War II when Nazi Germany forcibly 'annexed' Austria, Czechoslovakia, and parts of Poland.).

It's not surprising that he was asked for his views, because the recent USA-Canada hockey tournament game - which Canada won by the way - unleashed a wave of faw emotions in Canada.

He didn't hold back.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WoD8t02ync4

In that context, people don't understand how angry Canadians are, and why his message resonated in such a strong way throughout the country. (The full transcript is below.) It wasn't just the message - it was the blunt and passionate way that he took on the question that drew so much attention. The result is that it has thrust this improbable new hero into a situation in which he has suddenly captured the hearts and minds of most Canadians - simply for saying what needs to be said.

Contrast that to the situation of Wayne Gretzky, once Canada's favorite hockey player and a national icon, deeply respected and admired. For. years, you could not mention his name without a touch of reverence - he seemed to be next only to Terry Fox as a leading Canadian icon.

Until he wasn't.

Without going to all his actions - both recently and in the years leading up to this moment - he has done little to offer support for his home and native land. The result is that it seems that he is now a persona non grata in the nation. Heck, even in Alberta, which tends to skew to the right of the political spectrum, he is a character that is now most unwelcome.

His cardinal sin? In addition to past behavior, he has most recently failed to stand up for his native country in the aforementioned hockey tournament. Not only that, but he has stayed silent throughout the turmoil involving the country with its southern neighbor. His actions are speaking louder in the absence of any words. It seems clear to many that he has no alliance at all with the nation of his birth - and Canadians far and wide are acting accordingly.

A zero can go to zero in a matter of moments, and a new hero can emerge in a blinding flash.

There are important lessons here for individuals and organizations going forward. In a world of massive turmoil, everyone is under a microscope. Like it or not, they and the ideas they hold are under careful view, and support and admiration can turn in an instant. Brands, companies, and leaders can go from a hero to zero in a matter of seconds - depending on what they say or do or what they don't say and what they don't do.

And those who are willing to take a stand on the right side of history are those who will go into superhero status in but an instant.

Powerful lessons indeed.

Years from now, people will remember who was Neville Chamberlain and who was Winston Churchill. Like it or not, everyone is involved, and people will remember.

If I have one message to our President, it's to lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state.

As an American,?I'm ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we've shown one of our historically oldest strongest, and most loyal allies.

But one thing's for sure, okay, when I look forward to a month from now, is I know that this will fuel our team - the mentality we have the will we have to play for our country the desire.to go after this tournament in every way, and to show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is. ?

Obviously I really look forward to the challenge of playing Mexico, but the tournament as a whole, and I guarantee that our team will be ready.

Canada is a strong independent nation that's deeply rooted in decency, really, and it's a place that values high ethics and respect.? Unlike the polarized disrespectful, and often now hate-fueled climate, that's in the US.

Look, Canada values a lot of fairness and unity.?It's a place that I've learned, as the national team coach, where people really believe that their differences make them stronger. And honestly. its one of the things that I've enjoyed the most about our team is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team.

And look, they're almost all first and second-generation Canadians, coming from different heritage and cultures, but they uniquely are incredibly proud to be Canadian - to represent their country - to give everything to each other and the love that they have for each other and the and playing for their country.

To me this sounds very familiar to years past, right, so for me right now I couldn't be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach, and I found a place where that embodies for me the ideals and morals of what not just football and a team is, but what life is.

And that's integrity, respect, and the belief that good people can do great things together.

Jesse Marsch, Head Coach of the Canada men's national soccer team, February 2025

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Futurist Jim Carroll is not a big sports fan but recognizes true leadership when he sees it.

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