Last Sunday, two NFL teams advanced to the Super Bowl. Two other teams lost and were sent home for the winter.
One of the notable things about both games was the lack of heroes for the winning teams. Instead of the winning teams making a great play to win the game, both of the losing teams made mistakes that gave the game away. Instead of heroes we had goats.
In the first game, the Ravens made three consecutive heartbreakingly poor plays. First a dropped touchdown, then a bad pass when the quarterback could have run for a few yards and then a missed field goal from close range. The players who made the biggest mistakes, the receive who dropped the pass and the kicker who missed the kick lost the game for their team. Or at least it appears that way to the observer. Obviously mistakes in the beginning of the game are just as costly as mistakes at the end of the game. Yet, we somehow place greater emphasis on the glaring mistakes at the end of the game.
In our house we are fans of the Ravens. It was shocking and disappointing to see them lose in this fashion. Especially so, for my eight year old son. He was upset as I am sure millions of other Ravens fans across the country.
The second game featured an even worse anti-hero. Kyle Williams fumbled the ball twice in crucial kick return situations. He gave the ball back to the Giants and cost his tea the game. It was heartbreaking for him and for 49ers fans everywhere. It was his fault that the Giants won and people were really mad at him.
Some people sent him death threats.. Others just said horrible things about him. One seven year old boy was also upset after seeing Williams give away the game.
He was crying “but… why… did… he have to fumble?!”
His father replied, “if you are so upset, how do you think he feels?”
To which the boy responded by asking if he could write a letter to Kyle Williams to “make him feel better.”
Here is what the kid wrote:
Dear Mr. Williams:
We just watched the Playoff game. I feel really bad for you but I wanted to tell you that you had a great season. you sould be very proud, so I wanted to say thank you.
I am your #1 FAN!
Owen Shure
Los Angeles, CAp.s. your awsome
You gotta love this kid. But even more than the kid, I think you gotta love the father!
I’m sure he was upset too. Most people who invest time into sports are somewhat affected by wins and losses. All the more so a heart wrenching loss like the one suffered by the Niners on Sunday. This father used it as a great teaching moment for himself and his son. Athletes are people too. They make mistakes and it hurts them when they make mistakes.
The anger towards athletes when they don’t live up to our lofty expectations can cause people to do stupid things. They write death threats and forget that their sports heroes have feelings too.
No one feels worse than the goats of these big games. Hatred and anger towards them is immature and misguided.
Meanwhile, the rest of country has to deal with another championship that will be decided between teams from New York and Boston. That’s something to get upset about! (Just kidding.)
Click the link to see the letter!
Link: Yahoo
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