The Price of Perfection
// December 21st, 2009 // 6 Comments » // Football, General, Sports
This week marked the official ending to the New Orleans Saints undefeated season, a 24-17 loss to the Cowboys filled with defensive pressure that produced too many mistakes and too many turnovers. Even a strong rally back in the 4th quarter could not prevent another fumble by the Saints to give them even a chance at an overtime victory. It wasn’t too surprising that the Saints would eventually find defeat, given the three games earlier this season in which they barely slid by with a win. But for many it was a moment to relish, as the inconsistent Cowboys fighting for playoff contention took down the mighty, unstoppable NFC winning machine. As I sat in the restaurant watching the throngs of football fans cheering on the Cowboys, many of whom had told me they weren’t actually Cowboys fans but rather were just anxious to see the Saints fail, I started to question: why in the face of perfection do we find ourselves rooting the hardest for failure?
Whether it’s a star golfer’s perfect family man persona marred by indiscretion, a champion baseball player’s perfect season questioned by the use of performance enhancing drugs, or the end of a team’s perfect, seemingly undefeatable win streak, the ultimate fall from grace seems to create a frenzy of entertainment, criticism, and downright giddiness over the opportunity to bask in the failure of others. Is it merely our own insecurity wanting to believe that perfection is unattainable, that no one can live up to an idea of flawlessness no matter how talented? Or is it a need to fulfill an inner self-confidence, to maintain a belief that any of us could have been that athlete, that model, that musician, if only we had been given a similar lucky break in life and that these gifted people are no different than any of us other mere mortal beings with weaknesses to be exposed?
Maybe it’s an inherent trait in all of us, to want good things for others, but secretly hoping for nothing too grand without a little pain and hardship along the way to make them appreciative and to soften their egos. Almost assuredly as there will be death and taxes there will be games won and lost, sports scandals exposed on and off the field, and a fair share of self-centeredness brought down to earth. Still, the question remains can we learn to find comfort and happiness in the achievements of others, teach ourselves that those who have earned success deserve to relish in it and nurture the belief that hard work will be well rewarded? Or will we forever be a nation of cynics, living in a state of perpetual jealousy and pessimism at the perfection in others, waiting for the next shoe to drop, for all good things to come to an end, for the pedestal to be pulled out from under that perfect athlete, model or musician, and the world to seem like a fairer place, an even playing field once again. Time will only tell, but as it stands the Indianapolis Colts take on the New York Jets next week, and I wonder just who you might find yourself rooting for.
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