Thinking Out Loud: Sports IS Life

Scratches and bruises.

Blood, sweat, and tears.

Aching muscles and sprained ankles.

With all of these, why would sports be life?

There is something I find unique in sports. Be it actually playing the games or just sitting back and watching everything unfold, sports brings out an unquestionable amount of energy and spirit in me. The thrill of trying to score or defending the opposing team's ace player. The mental aspect that goes on a batter-pitcher match up. The anticipation of seeing the first goal of the match. The sigh of relief after your shot was declared in by mere millimeters. Very little compares.

And that is not even taking into account if you come out a winner or not.

Everyone wants to win. Who wouldn't? And it isn't limited to sports. Who wouldn't want to get a perfect grade in your exams? Who wouldn't want to get an excellent rating from your supervisor at work? Who wouldn't want to be recognized with awards and the like? Plain and simple, everyone wants to win, no one wants to lose.

But there lies the difference. Unlike with so many things in life, losing in sports happens as much as winning. A loser, unfortunately, will always emerge. You aim for a perfect grade? Regardless of what anyone else does, you could. Your goal is to have an excellent work rating? Do you want to be recognized? As long as you work hard and work efficient, you very well could get such.


However, in sports, trying your best is not enough to win. You must always come out as the better party. Unlike in test scores, or performance ratings, where everyone, as long as they perform as such, can get the highest scores. In sports, obviously, only the one that scores higher or finishes first is the winner. Doesn't matter if you score a hundred points if your opponent scored a hundred and one.


So losing IS a part of sports. And dare I say that that is not inherently bad. We win because we learn, but we grow because we lose. As the old adage goes, fall down seven, stand up eight. While there is definite bliss and excitement in victory, the humbling cold bucket of losses bring with it its own brand of emotions which, when you think about it, is much deeper than those from the former.


And here lies the rub. In life, we don't always win. In life, we don't always need to win. A loss here and there won't hurt us. A losing streak is not the end of it. A monumental defeat at the most crucial stages shouldn't, and wouldn't define us. Much like sports. You win some, you lose some. The faster your get over and learn from the loss, the closer you are to your next victory. Sports IS indeed life.


Mired in victory and defeat, is this the real life?


Or is this just fantasy?