I know I have done a blog in the past talking about pressure. I think I need to revisit the topic. I know I need a hobby but like analyze the reason why we feel pressure when we play a sport. A lot of people say that it is not life or death, but I don't think that is fair. It is life in death to the people participating ( and may be those who have put their families rent on it). Now yes there are players who are unflappable. They make shots and miss shots so to them they don't see it as life or death. Kobe Bryant comes to mind. He takes all of the buzzer beating shots for the Lakers. Even as a rookie against Utah he took the shots as an 18 year old and missed them. Obviously now he has the nickname as the "black Mamba" because he is lethal when the game is on the line. Golfers have to move on from putts that cost them major championships or defensive backs have to forget touchdowns they allow. Quarterbacks have to forget interceptions and of course kickers have to forget kicks they miss. I heard today the Nate Kaeding from the Chargers continues to have nightmares about missing the kicks that would have allowed the Chargers to defeat the Jets. The other night I was watching Serena play Azarenka and could not believe that she won. Serena was spraying balls allover the place and was 2 games away from being embarrassed. She wins 12 out of the next 14 games and is now poised to defend her title. Now I know that Serena would have cried after the match had she lost but she would be ready to go in the next tourney. Azarenka must be devastated and distraught. Her fellow country woman Dinara Safina is famous for melt downs in big matches. She is consistently in the finals or semi finals and when the going gets tough she collapses. It seems like women's tennis takes a big hit on this topic because of the many collapses of the player have had in matches. Remember Jana Novotna? She was poised to win her first Wimbeldon with a 5-2 lead in the third set, and Graf beat her. The queen of Finland had to console her. I remember watching Serena do this to Davenport once and Clijsters at the Australian Open. The realization of winning is very daunting to most people.
When Scott Norwood missed the field goal against the Giants or when Donnie Moore gave up the home run to Dave Henderson both of those men's lives have been affected forever. Moore committed suicide and his wife tried to sue baseball for ruining his life. Norwood went into hiding for a while and was out of football rather quickly after the kick. Mitch Williams disappeared for a little bit and was out of baseball due to injury shortly after the home run by Joe Carter. Bill Buckner who was a great player prior to the error that allowed the Mets to win game 6 disappeared from baseball for years until the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004. So when someone tells me that sports aren't life or death I laugh. Steve Bartman had to leave Chicago because his life was in jeopardy after he interfered with Cubs Moises Alou in the 8th inning of the baseball game. Choking is a bad term that society uses when a person fails. Unfortunately we all do it and use that phrase to describe a person who fails. I think that we should use that word when it is appropriate as opposed to anytime one fails in a big moment. For example, if you are winning a Golf tournament by 5 shots and Tiger or Phil pass you that is not choking. They are probably shooting a low enough score that enables them to win. If Serena is down by a set and 2 breaks and comes back to win, her opponent is not choking, Serena is just being Serena. If Brett Favre throws an interception that causes you to lose a game he is not choking, he is just the final nail in a coffin. I think that when you fumble 6 times and blow several opportunities to win games you cant blame the loss on a quarterback who throws a pick at the end of the game. The Vikings had several fortuitous things happen to them in the game and should be playing in the Super Bowl. However, if you haven't missed a kick under 40 yards in 60 plus attempts and you miss one then two in a playoff game, that is choking. If you have made 38 straight kicks in a season and the kick that is going to put you in the super bowl you miss that is a choke. If a baseball player strikes out or makes an out with the game on the line, that is not a choke. Same goes if a pitcher gives up a big hit to lose a game not a choke. But if you drop a ground ball that would end the game, that is a choke. If you drop a pop up at Yankee stadium with two outs in the 9th inning and allow the winning run to score, that is a choke. Sorry, having flash backs of the Luis Castillo..... I guess everything is subject to interpretation...To me being in the situation to choke is enough. I would love to have had the ability to be in that arena....
No comments:
Post a Comment