DEFLATING WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN
Little
Ralphie is the best player in school. Everyone wants him on their team. He
always goes out there on the field, conquering fear, nervousness, and gives it
his all. He maneuvers; he stays focused;
his aim is fantastic. He brings pride to his district. In fact, he’s so good
that if anything endangers his ability to win, he finds a solution to that
problem … because he must win … everyone expects him to win … he expects
himself to win.
And there’s genuineness
to it. He wants his team and himself to
be the best. So he seeks modes of
comfort during a game. He says to
himself: “Well, I know I’ll be able to throw that ball well but I’ll throw it better if I just make a wee adjustment.”
And so, he does the silliest little thing, breaking a wee rule to settle his
mind. And then he says to himself at
another game: “Well, I know I’ll be able to outthink that play but just as a backup, I’ll sneak a peek at
what my rivals are doing.” So, this phenomenal player, Ralphie, illegally
observes some signs … just in case … he’s
not good enough.
And there it
is … that “just in case” crap that destroys absolutely marvelous players. Ralphie, my imaginary player, becomes so
consumed with doing what he can to win, he not only fails to remember what made
him such a marvel before, but the very trait that fans so admired: having the courage it takes to win fair and square.
… having the
courage to not doubt one’s abilities …
having the courage to go out there
and give the game all you can muster because you believe in yourself.
Why do we
all still remember Mary Lou Rhetton’s perfect 10 score in the 1984 Olympics? It
wasn’t just about her being an underdog. It wasn’t just that she was injured
and went through the motions. It’s that she believed
in herself, despite being at a disadvantage, so much that she fought
through that moment of doubt, gave it everything she had, and won it like a
champion. And we loved that moment, not
because of her fabulous vault, but because of that charging, determined sprint
towards it with her face silently screaming: “Whatever happens, I WILL make it
over that barrier.” Does anyone think that the audience and people at home
would not have applauded manically if her mark was any less? Who cared? The win
made it sweeter, but man, her expression going towards it!
Same thing,
when runners near the finish line … when footballers race towards the goal. Who
cares when they cross the finish or score? It’s nice … but it’s more about that
mad dash or the breakaway run that comes before it where we the fans can watch
that Eureka moment in an athlete’s eyes shouting “YES, I CAN! I’m gonna do it!
I’m gonna do it!”
The Patriots
won the game. They clearly outplayed the Colts. Deflated or properly inflated
balls, it seems fair to say they would have won - they’re an awesomely talented
team with an awesomely talented Quarterback. What’s sad to me as a fan of
sports in general, is that they robbed me of that “I’m gonna conquer my doubt
and plow through this!” moment.
Tom Brady,
or whoever did it, gave himself an advantage, a comfort, and the silliest, most
unnecessary cop out of what I personally feel is the greatest aspect of all
athletics: the courage to win, the courage to be defeated, the courage to step
out there “blind” … without a crutch.
Can you
imagine how awful Improv would be if one of the best actors paid an audience
member to shout a word that he/she and the team could prepare for beforehand? Or a singer that lipsynchs? Alllll the same
deal.
It totally
defeats the purpose of being live and “in the moment!” And, this sucks, because
the Patriots forgot what it means to win.
So many
examples of why this is such a downer.
Well, I’ll still be watching the Superbowl nonetheless … don’t know what’ll
happen or how best it would be to penalize the team (keeping of course, in
mind, that it is discovered they truly DID cheat – I acknowledge it’s still
speculation, but the evidence sounds pretty bad).
I’ll be
thinking of Ralphie … and hoping for a pure, shining game with courageous
players that believe in themselves.
