| Let me say for the record that in professional | | | | and expected NO MERCY from their opposition! |
| football, I'm a Washington Redskins Fan. And last | | | | They didn't get mad at the end of the contest |
| week, the Redskins had to play a game against | | | | for getting publicly embarrassed; they took it |
| the New England Patriots. Now, what made this | | | | upon themselves to stop the embarrassment or |
| game soimportant was the fact that the | | | | to store the anger from the embarrassment for |
| Redskins' Defense was ranked in the top 5 for | | | | payback in the future! They didn't try to gain |
| the entire NFL and the talk around DC was that | | | | support from the media or rationalize the beating |
| the Patriots hadn't played a top-ranked defense | | | | they received from the opponent with their fan |
| this year. So, the town was set to see the | | | | base. They took their beating like champions, |
| Patriots take their first loss of the year at the | | | | focused on what they could've done differently |
| hand of the Redskins. | | | | with their preparation, fix the mistakes, and hope |
| What ended up happening was a Redskins' | | | | for a second chance for redemption in the near |
| beatdown from the Patriots by the score of 52-7. | | | | future. |
| Now, part of me was shaking my head trying to | | | | I'm not sure where this attitude of "losing with |
| figure out how "the best practice that the | | | | dignity" came from...but it stinks and anyone that |
| Redskins had all season" (that was the week | | | | thinks losing with dignity is what a real champion |
| before the game as described by the players) | | | | would do is completely off the mark. I'm not |
| turned into such a one-sided thrashing. Well, I | | | | saying that champions don't lose because it's |
| understand that in competitive sports that | | | | obvious they do, but a real champion would |
| everyone (or every team) can (and will at some | | | | NEVER look down at his opponent and expect |
| point) take a beatdown at any moment. But what | | | | mercy or an explanation for why there was a |
| really ticked me off about the game was the | | | | need for such a public humiliation. A real champion |
| number of Washington Redskins Players that felt | | | | would consider it his responsibility to do something |
| the Patriots had shown no class by "running up | | | | to stop the beating during the contest. And if |
| the score" when it was obvious that the game | | | | they couldn't stop it, then they'll just take the |
| was out of reach for a Redskins comeback. And | | | | beating without expecting or asking for mercy. |
| the more I heard the players (and reporters) talk | | | | And truth be told, a real champion understands |
| about it, one word kept popping up in my | | | | that if the shoe was on the other foot, that |
| mind...disappointment. | | | | theywould've done the EXACT same thing by |
| I say disappointment because I've had the | | | | showing no mercy to their opponents. That's why |
| pleasure of being around and training with many | | | | champions stand out from the pack of |
| martial arts champions (and a few pro football | | | | contenders. |
| athletes) over the years and the one thing that | | | | If you want mercy, stick to competing in little |
| I'd neverheard any of them do was expect | | | | league and high school events because there's a |
| mercy from their opponents. Those champions | | | | place for it. But once you've elevated your |
| understood that it was a contest to see which | | | | competition above those venues, you need to |
| person (or team) was superior on that particular | | | | know how to finish your opponents once you |
| day. And they understoodthat it was their goal to | | | | have them in trouble. And not only should you |
| dominate their opponents, hoping to leave a | | | | expect to receive a merciless thrashing from |
| permanent scar on their mental psyche that | | | | your opponent some day...but you should be |
| would make their opponents to never want to | | | | prepared to give one as well. And if this "classless |
| tangle with them again. And if the outcome didn't | | | | act" doesn't suit you, then get used to being a |
| turn out the way those proud champions | | | | contender for the rest of your life! |
| expected it to, they took their beating with pride | | | | |