Today's MOZEN: The Truth About Winning

Photo: Lon Horwedel/Icon Sporstwire - Words: F LoBuono

The past weekend in college football provided a plethora of comebacks and fantastic finishes. However, none were more thrilling then the conclusion of the Michigan State-Michigan game. Michigan had the ball and the lead, 23-21, with just 10 seconds left in the game. It was 4th down with 3 yards to go for a first. Still in their own territory, Michigan punter, Blake O'Neill dropped back to punt. All he need do was field the snap and get off a clean kick, as he had down VERY successfully for the whole game. Barring a miraculous punt return the Michigan victory would be sealed.

The snap was not perfect but it certainly wasn't awful either. Bending slightly to his right, O'Neil, a 22 year-old Australian, inexplicably fumbled the ball! It his efforts to regain control, O'Neil only made it worse by batting the ball into the air. Reacting quickly, States Jalen Watts-Jackson snatched the ball out of midair and raced 38 yards before powering into the end zone for the winning score.

Of course, Michigan State's sideline erupted into raucous celebration while the Michigan players and fans could only stare with wide-eyed, stunned bewilderment. Natural rivals, the fact that both teams were in contention to compete for the National Championship made the victory for State that much more significant and the loss for the Wolverines that much more devastating.

The vitriol towards O'Neill started almost immediately. He was excoriated in social media. He received death threats. So-called sports pundits mocked him in their comments. But, it seems that the cruelest came from his fellow Michigan students.

WTF?

This is a young man (22) playing a GAME. Do people realize just HOW many mistakes are made during the course of a game - EVERY game? There is no such thing as a team playing a "perfect" game. It's just not possible. O'Neill's error was a particularly egregious one but it is still JUST a mistake. The sun will rise. The rains will come. And, Michigan will play again - and win again.

So, how do we get to the point that we threaten young men with death for screwing up a punt in a college football game?

It's because the win at all costs mentality is pervasive in our society. And, it always has been. Perhaps, people will recall the famous speech delivered by George C. Scott in the opening of his Academy Award winning performance as "Patton". In it he says (paraphrasing):

Americans have always loved a winner and will not tolerate a loser.

And, of course, there's legendary football coach Vince Lombardi's:

Winning isn't everything, it's the ONLY thing!

We are obsessed with winning and the trappings that come with it. But, who defines winning and winners? What value do we place on competing versus the final outcome?

In today's age of so-called Political Correctness (PC), there has been a move away from the traditional idea of "winning" and "competing" and more towards participation. This has created a certainly level of warranted controversy. Proponents of this way of thinking believe it will lead to a more even, equitable society where everyone is given an equal chance to succeed, despite whatever shortcomings they may have. Opponents argue that eliminating competition is "unnatural" and will only create a generation of spineless whiners, instead of winners.

I believe in balance in all things. This case is no exception. With the proper balance we can achieve a society that is both fair and competitive. We can do this by encouraging young people to participate in activities despite their ultimate skill level. It is indeed natural that some people will be better at some things than others. That's OK. Mistakes will be made - they even have a name for the - ERRORS. We ALL make them. Sometimes we make them at the worst possible moments. That's OK, too. It's all in the way we teach our children about what winning and losing really ARE. Yes, there is a final score which is a measure of success. But, it is only ONE factor. There are many others - like giving maximum effort in everything we do. THIS defines winning. If we compete with a pure heart of desire to give the best that is within us, we will have WON. The final score becomes less relevant.

O'Neill is no stranger to competition. A former Australian rules football player, his coach claims that he is tough enough to handle the criticism. He has been TAUGHT that errors are part of the game. The only way to overcome them is accept them as such and commit to do better the next time. His former coach says he will be ready. THIS is a winners mentality! The real LOSERS are the ones who can't (or won't) understand it.