So pro athletes make up one 100 millionth of the people in the world? So there are 70 of them? And in what way are they superior to the rest of us? (Many of us don’t care about running faster, etc.)
There’s a discussion in the book (and probably in the movie) The Godfather about how one goes about controlling a fearless sociopath like Don Corleone’s enforcer Luca Brasi. Corleone explains that simply threatening to kill him won’t work; people such as Brasi don’t exactly love themselves and essentially go around asking to be killed. “You have to make him afraid,” Corleone explains, “that YOU will be the one to kill him. Then he is yours.”
Boy, was that profound. And boy, did I not get it for a long time. Then I reached — just reached — a level in certain sports to actually think about winning or losing my age group, my heat, or even a whole race on one of those days when enough of the varsity is racing elsewhere. When you start to win is when you really think about losing. Until then, finishing is victory. PR’ing is victory. Not walking at all on the run leg is victory. You strive and you strive and you strive to contend for the podium, and when it starts happening, it’s still fun but it’s a different and much more stressful kind of fun and maybe it’s even a good deal less fun. However it affects you, you definitely think more about winning and losing.
And, especially in mass-start races where conditions are minimally controlled, you lose a lot more than you win, no matter how good you are. And, speaking for myself, I found losing was … OK. Not the desired outcome, but an acceptable one. Depending on who did win. Because eventually there’s going to be That Guy. There will be several of That Guy, and you, too, will be somebody’s That Guy. And then I understood Don Corleone.
I think of the North Stars moving from Minnesota to Florida as bearing out my solution to outrageous sports salaries – support the amateurs! In Minnesota, they do support amateur hockey.
asrialfeeple about 6 years ago
Don’t compare yourself to pros. You always lose out.
griffon8 about 6 years ago
I find my life is much simpler by ignoring all sports.
fuzzbucket Premium Member about 6 years ago
Enjoy them while you can. Those athletic years don’t last forever.
cervelo about 6 years ago
One of the best ways to survive high school is to get involved in extra-curricular activities, e.g. sports.
dwane.scoty1 about 6 years ago
Richard S Russell Premium Member about 6 years ago
You should feel inferior to pro athletes, because you totally are! So are 99.999999% of the other humans on Earth.
pshapley Premium Member about 6 years ago
So pro athletes make up one 100 millionth of the people in the world? So there are 70 of them? And in what way are they superior to the rest of us? (Many of us don’t care about running faster, etc.)
Bob. about 6 years ago
I caught my last pass 52 years ago. Don’t miss it.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] about 6 years ago
Frazz15 hrs ·
There’s a discussion in the book (and probably in the movie) The Godfather about how one goes about controlling a fearless sociopath like Don Corleone’s enforcer Luca Brasi. Corleone explains that simply threatening to kill him won’t work; people such as Brasi don’t exactly love themselves and essentially go around asking to be killed. “You have to make him afraid,” Corleone explains, “that YOU will be the one to kill him. Then he is yours.”
Boy, was that profound. And boy, did I not get it for a long time. Then I reached — just reached — a level in certain sports to actually think about winning or losing my age group, my heat, or even a whole race on one of those days when enough of the varsity is racing elsewhere. When you start to win is when you really think about losing. Until then, finishing is victory. PR’ing is victory. Not walking at all on the run leg is victory. You strive and you strive and you strive to contend for the podium, and when it starts happening, it’s still fun but it’s a different and much more stressful kind of fun and maybe it’s even a good deal less fun. However it affects you, you definitely think more about winning and losing.
And, especially in mass-start races where conditions are minimally controlled, you lose a lot more than you win, no matter how good you are. And, speaking for myself, I found losing was … OK. Not the desired outcome, but an acceptable one. Depending on who did win. Because eventually there’s going to be That Guy. There will be several of That Guy, and you, too, will be somebody’s That Guy. And then I understood Don Corleone.
It’s not whether you lose. It’s who you lose to.
gcarlson about 6 years ago
I think of the North Stars moving from Minnesota to Florida as bearing out my solution to outrageous sports salaries – support the amateurs! In Minnesota, they do support amateur hockey.