This weekend went off better/worse than expected. That last statement was intended to require explanation and set up this post. Cue expository paragraph.
So going into this weekend my fears were that the frisbee team would implode and I would have to wade through all the conflict and laziness to salvage a decent frisbee weekend for myself. This was actually the least of my worries. Some problems existed but they hid themselves below the surface and I never felt like I was babysitting. This is a minor triumph for me at this point. This shall hereto be referred to as better.
This did not translate to production on the field. We went 0-6 on the weekend. I know we were the 8th seed of 8 teams and that we therefore played to seed, but that doesn't change the fact that we lost games that I know we not only could have won, but should have won. In two games we were up by a score of 12-8 only to end up losing 13-15 and then 12-15. Losing, I dub thee worse.
I can't help but feel responsible for this. I took the weight of this team on my shoulders when I decided to be the captain this fall. I feel that a better captain could've rallied his troops in the face of a surging enemy and fought back the charge when it came. Instead, we fell and I feel that my legacy and stature are much like that of Napolean. I didn't play as well as I could've, but that's actually not my point. I didn't make anyone else play better because of this, and that is how I have failed.
I couldn't help but reflect a bit on how this all made me feel while laying around being sore/doing nothing when I got back yesterday afternoon. I started thinking about my entire competitive career and I came to this realization: in every aspect of competition in which I have challenged others I have a losing record with only one exception. Limiting my discussion to athletic competition and starting chronologically:
Little League Baseball - a significantly low win percentage. This is highlighted by the fact that in my first year and last year of competitive play my team failed to record a single win.
High School Football - three wins over the course of two years of play (3-13). Even if I had continued to play all through high school my record would be approximately the same as the team did not improve dramatically, or at all actually, when I left. At least I can say it wasn't my fault.
Church Softball - a losing record despite the fact that this is probably the best I have ever played. I was deep in the order and played right center. There was little to no pressure on me and I thrived on it, hitting line shot singles up the gut or grounders directly down the lines for singles galore. We still managed a losing record for three consecutive years and then folded when a crisis in the church came about (don't ask).
City-League Softball - Wicked Awesome's chronicals are detailed more clearly in Taylor Street, but in summary, we won two games and I was absent for one.
Ultimate - this needs subsections
College Ultimate - the team I played on had been very good making nationals my freshman year. I did not play until my junior year and then I was injured. So I really only have two significant years of undergrad playing. These two years, we were definitely above .500 (officially I can really only remember my final year record of 17-10). Grad school record might be slightly above .500 were it not for this fall season.
City-League Ultimate - I can just logon to the Ultimate Chicago site and see that I am 30-32 in my career.
The one exception?
Youth League Soccer - third through fifth grade my team (The Sounders) were pretty good, finishing first for one year and second the other two. I then gave up soccer.
Does any of this matter? Is the value of a player defined by his team's record? I don't really think so but at the same time it's been sixteen years since I've been on a team that won a championship.
An additional note: I went to the last Don't Forget The Nuggets show ever on Saturday night and had a blast. These guys have a stage show is unbeatable and the music is catchy. Go to their myspace site and listen for yourselves.
3 comments:
you're always a winner in my eyes, loser.
I've played in a lot of frisbee teams and I've enjoyed many training sessions under your command (and if you weren't in charge I thought you were). You are a good teacher, you are patient, supportive and you inspire confidence. Nuff said.
First.. didn't realize you had started a blog, even though it was linked on ours.
Second, you take sports more to heart than most. The fact that you've lost so much and still strive for the win (and you do strive you ass off) is a testament to you character.
Third, didn't coach McGurk always say that winning was bad? You get a taste of the top and the next loss feels that much worse.
Cheers Mate
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