Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good...

I don't care what anyone says about skill, talent, or ability. I would rather be lucky than good. I am sure that we have all had one of those day when everything you do or touch just seems to go your way and I am sure that you have the opposite as well. After watching what I saw this weekend, I am convinced that being lucky is better than being good because you never know when luck is going to strike. For example, the Miami Heat played their best game on the road Friday night, only to have Kobe Bryant bank a three-point shot in and defeat them. After the game Kobe said that he knew the shot was long and when it went in all he could do is lift his arms above his head in triumph.
How about college football on Saturday. The University of Pittsburgh played their hearts out only to have a kicker miss an extra point that proved to be the margin of victory for Cincinnati. He must be the sickest man on earth. That kick is practiced a thousand times a season and for some reason it is missed more frequently than one might imagine. Then the University of Texas gets the luckiest break of the weekend. Their Heisman winning Quarterback Colt MCcoy throws a ball that was in the air forever out of bounds and the clock expired. The referees ruled that there was 1 second on the clock and allowed Texas an opportunity to kick a 46 yard field goal to win the game. The messed up thing about that play is that I was always taught that when the clock hits double zero, the game is over. Notre Dame and Michigan earlier this season had a similar play where the game clock should have given the Irish 1 second and allowed them to have one more play. The referee did not review the clock and ran off the field and Michigan won. Did Texas receive some"home cooking" with the call? Probably because I feel that when the clock goes "00" the game is over. I remember the Superbowl between the Patriots and the Rams and after Vinitieri made the kick, there was still 2 seconds on the clock. The Patriots ran on the field and celebrated, the confetti came down and the refs did not even try to stop the celebration.
Then of course the NFL game of the day. The New Orleans Saints got three unbelievable breaks yesterday. The kicker of the Redskins missed a 23 yard field goal that would have "iced" the game for the 'Skins. The receiver Meachem stole the ball from a defender who had intercepted a pass from Brees and returned it for a touchdown. In overtime, the Saints recovered a fumble even though the ruling on the field was down by contact. The replay booth over ruled the call and the Saints marched on to keep their unblemished record. Some may say that the Giants got lucky yesterday too. Tony Romo throws for 392 yards and basically carved the Giants up like the turkeys they are and lost the game because of a punt return and allowing a 265lb. running back to scamper down the sideline for a 70 plus yard touchdown on a short pass. As a Giant fan, I will take it as luck and look forward to he Eagles this weekend. Now the Cowboys have to answer the questions about always losing in December. Ya gotta love it!!!
The sad story of "bad" luck this weekend goes to Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers. This guy has been injured in all of his seasons in the NBA and now he is out for the season. He just jumped up in the air and landed and his knee is gone.. Portland must feel cursed. This the third high profile center that have drafted and their careers plagued by injuries. Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, Arvydis Sabonis could not stay healthy enough to sustain legendary careers while in Blazer uniforms. Walton, won three rings despite foot problems. He is in the Hall of fame. Sabonis is arguably the greatest international player that we never got to see. In his prime he was compared to Bird for his crafty ability with ball and shooting touch. When he came to the NBA he was still very good but injured too often with back and other issues. Bowie is a sad story because he was drafted ahead of Micheal Jordan and never did anything for the Blazers. A cup of coffee with the Nets is his only positive claim to fame in the NBA. Greg Oden from all accounts is a really good kid. I am sad for him and his family. He is only 22 so he has time but "unlucky" accidents happen all the time..