After his behavior this past Sunday, it seems safe to say that Vince Young is desperate to learn the same lessons on humility and self-control that Michael Vick and Maurice Clarett have seemed to learn. Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN agrees.

There is something, however, that Wojciechowski and anyone else following or commenting on these stories better be careful about, namely, talking about these guys as if humility and self-control are easy to come by.

The reason I say this is because if each one of us were to walk the path they have traveled, we too would struggle immensely with humility of heart. If we don’t think so, all we do is show how proud we really are. Imagine coming from little or nothing to being catered to and told how great you are for the bulk of your young adult existence. Imagine success coming too easy and too quick, accompanied by millions of dollars and national fame. Do you honestly think you would be any better than Young, Vick, and Clarett? If anything, we would often be worse.

The interesting thing about pride is that the obvious pride of others often serves to readily expose our own. Commentators of all kinds beware. If you want to call someone to humility, you better do so with some humility of your own. When it comes to commenting on the sins of others, we are wise to look deep into the mirror first. For only then can we help the ones we comment on, the ones we comment to, and benefit from the commentary ourselves.

Indeed, as I write these words, I realize that they are first and foremost for me.