On leadership.

Whether you're a fan of old time hockey or not -- or if you are, whether you're a fan of the Bruins or not -- you could learn a lot from their goalie Tim Thomas, who pitched a shutout last night against the Lightning.

Unlike a lot of high-profile athletes who take credit and lay blame, he's the opposite.

When things go bad, particularly when the guys in front of him do something boneheaded and put him in a tough spot, he's the first to defend them. To pick them up. And even take the blame with an "I should have made that stop" comment. He takes all the pressure off his teammates and places it squarely on his shoulders, because he knows he needs them at the top of their games the next time they hit the ice.

And when he stands on his head and doesn't let a single puck get past him, like last night, he talks about the guys in front of him. About how they made the tough plays and kept the puck in front of them and kept the forecheck on and kept the pressure up. He deflects all the positive attention from himself and showers his teammates with it, because he knows he needs them to be at the top of their games the next time they hit the ice.

No matter what your job, if you're in a position of leadership, your job is to get the best out of your team. To get them to get outside their comfort zones and go to places they didn't even think they could go. When they know you have their backs, in good times or bad, they'll work their asses off for you. And deliver.

And make you look good.