Winning and losing

First I read about the hurdler who all of China is watching, the whole country hoping he will take gold at the Olympics. I felt sorry for the pressure he is probably feeling and hoped he would win.

Then I saw the picture of the guy from Cuba who also competes in hurdles, and could tell by his face how badly he wanted victory. And I hoped he'd win too.

And then I saw the picture of the guy from team USA and read his confident words and wondered if it might be good for him to have the victory.

That's the problem with the Olympics. Somebody has to win.

Competition makes the world go round, and starting this week, competition brings the world together to judge the best and to honor them.

People who've worked hard their whole lives, through hardship, through injury, through government pressure, through competition after competition, will put their best on the line.

And somebody has to lose.

I never was much of a competitor. I wasn't all that good at anything physically, so maybe it was a necessary defense, but I also found myself easing off a bit at Ping Pong, for example, if I could tell somebody wanted to win so badly it was killing them (yes, now all you who've beat me at Ping Pong must question the legitimacy of your victories!).

Music was the main extracurricular in my life. Though it can be competitive and there were the occasionally judged events, it is mostly complimentary. You sit there with your violin next to somebody else with one, across from a cellist and in front of others with drums, flutes, French horns and the like, and you all play your hardest and then everybody in the audience claps their appreciation. It's a win-win situation. You win by putting out your best and being complimented via applause, others win by being musically fed and expressing their enjoyment enthusiastically.

Athletics are different. You have to be faster, stronger, better, than the next guy or girl. And you win or you lose.

I'm glad we're supporting the Olympics. I'm glad Bush, in one of the moves of his I support, refused to consider a boycott. I'm glad nations of the world are coming together to honor sport and sportsmanship and work and success. I'm glad commentators will point out that just earning a spot in this particular competition is winning. I'm glad we'll hear so many inspiring stories of dedicated, highly-motivated, hard-working individuals.

I'm just sorry anyone has to lose.


















(Friendly games at family reunion - as close as I'm getting to competition this year!)