Want to see something beautiful?
Of course you do.
This is Geno Auriemma, seconds after his UCONN basketball
team lost for the first time in 111 games. It was an epic upset. Consider this
about the 111 game winning streak:
111
Consecutive
wins
867
Days between
UConn losses (Nov. 17, 2014, to Stanford in overtime).
80
Consecutive
wins in AAC play.
65
Largest
margin of victory, 103-37 against No. 20 South Florida on Jan. 10
61
Victories by
at least 40 points
23
More wins
than the men’s record of 88, by John Wooden’s 197-74 UCLA Bruins
4
Combined
margin of defeat in 2 overtime losses sandwiching the streak
2
National
titles
Look again at Geno’s face.
Do you think he places sports in
the proper context?
Do you think he knows that you can give a valiant effort and
still lose?
And that there is absolutely no shame?
None.
Indeed he does.
Competition can be a good thing. Competition can help people
achieve things they didn’t think they could.
Competition can get the better of some.
This is Todd Bertuzzi, seconds away from cold-cocking an
opponent and inches away from paralyzing him.
This is Draymond Green kicking an opponent in the testicles.
This is Mike Tyson biting the ear of Evander Holyfield in a “boxing”
match.
You might be wondering if this is a dude thing. It isn't.
You might be wondering if it is the professional aspect of
sports/competition that creates this.
The money lure is too much and guys go
too far for the big contract because winning matters and personal stats matter…all
the way to the bank.
You would be wrong.
Parents got too far.
Here is Lavar Ball.
He wants his son to be the greatest. Or
is it all of his sons?
And this is Todd Marinovich.
His dad was stretching his
hamstrings as a baby.
What could go wrong?
Competition can be a good thing. Part of competition is
losing. For everyone.
Losing with grace and perspective is beautiful,
especially in regards to a game where you throw a ball into a peach basket.
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