FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 04/22, 07:46 PM
Q: What is the ultimate goal of sports?

A: To win it all. To be a champion.

Winning the biggest game is the final, fulfilling act of every athlete. Hours in the gym, hours in the video room, hours toiling over details, hours of sweat, blood, and tears. All for what? TO WIN.

Winning a ring is the top of the mountain. I agree that rings alone do not define a player. However, if you as a player NEVER get to that mountain top, you retire incomplete. Not a failure, but you can never hold your head high and admire the flash of the sun off your massive CHAMPIONSHIP RING.

Ok, picture this in your mind. It's game 7 of the WS. Would you rather go 3 for 5 and strike out with the bases loaded in the 9th to lose the game, or go 1 for 4 with the WS-winning hit in the bottom of the 9th?

Remember all those stories of old people at death's door, who want nothing more than to see the Red Sox win a WS? How many people lay on their deathbed and groan, "ohh...i really want papi to hit 50 hr this year.."

The biggest regret players have, is that they never got a ring. What player says, "gosh, i wish i hit 275 hr instead of 240"? At the end of the day, rings matter most.

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 04/22, 09:09 PM
Sure, a superstar is usually richer and more famous than a bench player who never gets into a game. Duh. But you saying that you'd rather be a mega-rich super-star instead of a guy who never plays is a clever attempt at avoiding the very heart of this TD.

My position is that contributing to a team on a lesser level and winning RINGS is better than being a super-star and always falling short. Personally, I'd rather have 10 Million or less in the bank and WS/SB rings on my hands than 200 Million in the bank and having to buy myself jewelry. ...how lame is that?... Why do you think players take less money to be on a better team? Why do old player hang on past their prime?

Let's make 2 Cub's players.
Player A: Goes 20-4, wins a Cy, and doesnt win a ring.
Player B: Goes 10-10, but pitches a shutout game 7 in the WS!

Can you imagine how I would be viewed if i won a WS for the Cubs? I would never have to pay for anything again in Chicago. People would name babies after me! They'd buy me gas at the pumps! I'd be viewed as a near-diety!

40 HR season? 100 Million $
50 HR season? 150 Million $
70 HR season? 200 Million $
1 WS winning HR? Priceless.

-to be continued

Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 04/23, 09:49 AM
Do you realize that all the great athletes who have to retire would give
nearly anything to have been a World Champion even just once?

It is the highest, noblest goal of every athlete. To be a Champion!
Everything else fades away and becomes less significant when you
are standing under the sparkling confetti streaming down like rain. At
that very moment, would ANYONE on the winning team want to change
places with ANYONE on the losing team? No way!! Their heart is pounding, eyes wide as tears of joy roll down, they scream like babies and embrace each other in ecstatice euphoria!! THEY DID IT! They are CHAMPIONS!! No amount of money or bronze plaques can take the place of being in that moment!

Sure Marino is in the HOF. Woo-hoo! But his career goal was NEVER achieved. He ALWAYS fell short! He NEVER took the training wheels off his career! Over and Over and Over and Over and Over he failed. FAILURE!! INCOMPLETE!

If your goal as an athlete going into your career is ANYTHING LESS THAN WINNING A CHAMIONSHIP, you have a warped understanding of the word WINNER! If losing doesn't bother you, what does that make you? Pathetic.

No my friend, nothing can replace a ring.