Sports Story of the Week
Chasing Squirrels Delays the Game
Fans at Detroit's Comerica Park came to watch the Tigers take on the Orioles on Monday night, but for one inning, the baseball they paid for took a back seat to a determined black squirrel.
The unexpected, but recurring visitor darted onto the field in the sixth inning and seemed to enjoy the field level pass. The squirrel spent the time by sprinting along the warning track, wandering the outfield, and for a time, paused near Orioles third-base coach Buck Britton where he got rewarded with some sunflower seeds. Seizing their opportunity, the team took the 7th inning stretch as an opportunity for a pursuit. It was during that time that it briefly surprised outfielder Leody Taveras' by jumping in his glove before making another escape. At that point, the entire grounds crew joined the pursuit, but the squirrel hilariously dodged every attempt to catch it. (Seriously- search the video)
For nearly an inning the players, coaches, broadcasters, and more than 20,000 fans watched the chase unfold. Tigers announcer Jason Benetti provided a colorful play-by-play while the crowd laughed and cheered every twist and turn. Even the mascot Paws got in the action holding up a sign, "Free the Squirrel."
When a grounds crew member finally captured the squirrel with the signature Gatorade towel and carried it safely off the field, fans responded with cheerful applause and even a few playful boos for the unexpected ending of the entertainment!
The game resumed soon after, but by then, everyone knew that the star of the night was that unexpected black squirrel. The game ended with Detroit losing 8-5. But for the fans, it was one for the history books.
3 Lessons from Chasing Squirrels
1. Distractions Can Add Value.
In business, we often treat unexpected disruptions as a nuisance. But here, the crowd, broadcast announcers, and even the players enjoyed the unexpected. Few were angry about the delay, instead, they were captivated. In leadership, we have to remember that not every detour is a disaster. When an unexpected "squirrel" enters your industry, workplace, or meeting, stopping to acknowledge it with humor and authenticity can build far more engagement and rapport than rigidly powering through your scheduled agenda.
2. Know which squirrels to chase.
Great leaders distinguish between distractions worth pursuing and those that simply steal focus. This wasn't a small fly that they chased. But a squirrel that could impact the game. It was big enough to need handling, but not so big to need to stop the game mid-pitch. Sometimes "squirrels" or "shiny objects" can distract us from the goal, but sometimes, they can be just the thing that brings us joy in the moment.
3. Know When to Let It Go.
The grounds crew didn't chase the squirrel forever. Some dodged it, some ran from it, but once they caught it, they wrapped it in a Gatorade towel and calmly walked it out the gate and off the field. The best leaders know that even worthy distractions have an expiration date. Engaging a disruption too long turns a fun, bonding moment into a costly delay. Whether it is a meeting distraction, a spirited debate, or an unexpected opportunity, the skill isn't just in knowing which squirrels to chase it's knowing when you've caught it and it's time to let it go and get back to the game.
