Does anyone recognize this man? I’ll tell you a little bit about him and see if he rings a bell. In high school he was an All-State football player as a junior and senior. He was also a two-time All-District and All-Centex selection and twice selected to Team Texas. He’s been in the starting lineup since his freshman year in high school.
This man is Ross Evans, the kicker for TCU. As of late he has been in the news for the two missed field goals at the end of the game against Utah last Thursday. Had either of the balls he kicked gone through the uprights at the end of that incredible game they would have negated the final spectacular touchdown thrown by Brian Johnson with only seconds to go. Disappointment and heartbreak are what he felt as he sat in the loneliest seat in Rice-Eccles. The camera showed him with his head in his hands as the clock hit zero. Nevermind the accolades, nevermind the high school awards and achievements. He was a big fat loser.
Over the past 24 hours of reflection, I have grown to respect the losers. It was less than 24 hours ago that I let a highly coveted CBAC championship slip through my very capable hands. No one who played in that tournament wanted that championship more than I did. The only other time I was in the final game, a player on the other team made 5 for 5 from the three-point line and some were from behind half court. I’ve always considered that if I were able to get back in the finals I wouldn’t let the trophy escape. Last night it escaped me again.
No doubt this let down is tremendously hard to swallow and only time, mental focus, and personal dedication to improvement can get a person through this. I guess 20 years from now the question will be, “is Ross Evans remembered for blowing TCU’s BCS chances?” or “is he being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame?” He is in control of that question. That’s what keeps me going. That’s the beauty of sports. Even the wake of a humiliating loss comes tremendous strength to come back stronger and that is what I plan to do.
This man is Ross Evans, the kicker for TCU. As of late he has been in the news for the two missed field goals at the end of the game against Utah last Thursday. Had either of the balls he kicked gone through the uprights at the end of that incredible game they would have negated the final spectacular touchdown thrown by Brian Johnson with only seconds to go. Disappointment and heartbreak are what he felt as he sat in the loneliest seat in Rice-Eccles. The camera showed him with his head in his hands as the clock hit zero. Nevermind the accolades, nevermind the high school awards and achievements. He was a big fat loser.
Over the past 24 hours of reflection, I have grown to respect the losers. It was less than 24 hours ago that I let a highly coveted CBAC championship slip through my very capable hands. No one who played in that tournament wanted that championship more than I did. The only other time I was in the final game, a player on the other team made 5 for 5 from the three-point line and some were from behind half court. I’ve always considered that if I were able to get back in the finals I wouldn’t let the trophy escape. Last night it escaped me again.
No doubt this let down is tremendously hard to swallow and only time, mental focus, and personal dedication to improvement can get a person through this. I guess 20 years from now the question will be, “is Ross Evans remembered for blowing TCU’s BCS chances?” or “is he being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame?” He is in control of that question. That’s what keeps me going. That’s the beauty of sports. Even the wake of a humiliating loss comes tremendous strength to come back stronger and that is what I plan to do.
1 comments:
Scuba,
I thought I might try to cheer you up in your hours of desperation. I think the category that you might be able to find yourself in is the "loveable loser" category. I think many of us were pulling for you to get that all-too-elusive first CBAC win and we all winced with pain as attempt after attempt for your team found its way out of the hoop. So, in that vein, I have a few snippits from a story I stumbled upon. While not my words, I hope you enjoy them all the same. Link: http://cornellsun.com/section/sports/content/2008/11/04/we-cant-all-be-winners-ode-lovable-loser
"Despite my numerous faults, I feel sincerely that I am what some might classify a “lovable loser.” Being a lovable loser is not exactly the same as being a winner, of course, but it is as close as you can get. Lovable losers like to throw around terms like “rebuilding year,” so as to give their losses meaning. That’s nice. They may lose, possibly all of the time, but they always retain their dignity and poise. They bring brownies to halftime and juice boxes to the post-game huddle. They are good sports and tend to look at adversity as an important step on the stairway to greatness, not a stumbling block that causes you to fall flat on your face in front of your entire seminar class.
And so, in honor of, well, me, I have decided to pay tribute to some lovable losers that have been in the news recently. In the sporting world, unfortunately, there is no grey area in terms of achievement. There are wins, there are losses, and once in a great while there are ties (which I am choosing to ignore because they’re annoying and dilute my point.) So here’s to you, you “LL’s.” You came close. Unfortunately, not close enough.
Topping my list are the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays were recently defeated in the World Series by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Losing gracefully has never been the particular shtick of the Dallas Cowboys, but I think their performance against the New York Giants on Sunday night football may have taught them a lesson in humility."
And a few of my own:
Utah State Aggies Football
Utah Jazz ('97 and '98 Finals)
Arizona Cardinals (they'll find a way out of the playoffs)
LA Clippers (barely qualify as loveable but mostly just losers)
Anyone else care to add?
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