Not an excuse

S
o, I was sitting on my couch on Friday evening watching 3A East Regional volleyball on the NFHS and I got a text from my son. 
“Got the paper today. Thought you’re article on multi-sport athletes was well written. But I gotta ask … Michael Jackson? Like the musician? Or did Bo Jackson have a relative in the NFL as well? (laughing, crying emoji)”
My jaw dropped!
How did I miss that? And even more importantly, how could I have made such a serious typo?! I’m a teacher, for crying out loud. I always proof everything I write. I am fully aware that we don’t register everything we read (or write) word for word. 
Insert eye-rolling emoji here.
I’m pretty sure Michael Jackson never played a sport in his life since he was a superstar musician from the age of five. I mean, he was an athlete given his extraordinary dance moves, but he wasn’t a multi-sport athlete. 
Michael JORDAN is who I meant — my favorite athlete of all time.
Jordan truly is one of the most inspirational athletes ever, and to make it better he has a great Cinderella story. He was cut from his high school program when he was a freshman, but he worked hard to go on to play at North Carolina and then to become the G.O.A.T. of basketball.
He also played professional baseball after he semi-retired from the NBA. Granted, his stint on the diamond was a little lackluster compared to the hardwood, but still...who does that?! 
If lessons on how to be the best you can be in sports can be learned from anyone, he’s right up there at the top of “what to do”.  
And I called him Michael Jackson …
All I can say in my defense is that it was parent/teacher conferences week, I was tired, I was juggling several responsibilities and I had just typed Bo Jackson’s name before Michael’s. 
But my defense is weak. I should have caught it, it’s my job, and I own it. 
Let’s compound this mistake with one I made a couple of weeks ago when I misidentified Aidan Chick as Avery Chick in a football photo. Yes, they are twins so it might be understandable, but I’ve known the ‘Chicklets’ since they were babes. I know the difference, in both their looks and their interests. Avery runs cross country, Aidan plays football. 
I have often said that we learn more from our failures than our successes, and this is one huge failure that I will indeed learn much needed refresher lessons.
We get busy, we juggle many different responsibilities, but we still need to be spot on when it comes to what is expected of us. 
It seems to be very easy to blame others for our mistakes, and the lack of accountability is an epidemic which has infected all of us, and is something we need to inoculate ourselves against.
Failure makes us better. Understanding our limitations makes us aware. Knowing where we are weak drives us to strengthen what we can control.  
This mistake has made me much more focused on what I send in to be published. I can’t promise perfection, but I know I will make sure that I never mistake Michael Jordan as Michael Jackson again!