In a previous entry, I have confessed that I have little skill or expertise at most sports, but also acknowledged that sports and sporting terms permeate our society.
Decades ago, I encountered a piece of trivia that struck me as profound and relevant to many areas of life. At that time (records fall, so this has probably changed by now), the legendary baseball player Babe Ruth held the records both for hitting the most "home runs" AND for "striking out" the most times. In my limited perspective on baseball, that made him simultaneously the most and least successful baseball player in terms of his batting.
I can keep mentioning that I know little about baseball, but I suspect there is a relationship between the two records. By striving (and often succeeding!) to hit "home runs", he may have decreased his overall likelihood of connecting with the ball at all. A different player might have been content to strive less for power but more for accuracy, connecting with the ball more often but not hitting it as far.
There is a game or device called "Shoot the Moon", consisting of a wooden framework enclosing two pivoting metal rods which support a metal ball. By starting with the two rods close together, and then carefully pulling them apart, the object of the game is to make the ball seem to travel UP the inclined rods. Actually, the ball is traveling downward as it slides between the two rods. My family received this game for Christmas long ago, and we practiced and practiced, eventually achieving a certain amount of skill. For most people, success at the game requires risk-taking -- you must pull the rods far enough apart that the ball moves fast, and acquires momentum. This increases the danger that the ball will completely slide between the rods and fall. If you play it safe, and keep the rods relatively close together, the ball will not slip between the rods, but it also will not travel very far up the incline. The result is the same as the Babe Ruth phenomenon. Increasing your chance at getting the ball to travel all the way to the top of the incline (a "home run") also increases your chance that the ball will fall between the rods (a "strike out").
This basic principle of "swinging for the bleachers" applies to many areas of life. Sometimes, striving for great success simultaneously increases your chances of failure, and sometimes the ONLY way to achieve success is to place yourself in a high-risk position. One of the challenges of life is knowing WHEN this applies, and when taking risks is simply foolish.
Truth is complicated.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Sports
I feel the need to confess that I have little knowledge or skill when it comes to most major organized sports. I have basic knowledge of the rules of things like baseball, football, and basketball, but always have been one of the worst players on my team in situations where I ended up on a team, and have little knowledge of the top professionals or teams. It is common for me to be unaware of which teams are playing in the "World Series" or in the "Superbowl", and I cannot offhand name the most recent winners of either, though I know a few years ago the New England Patriots won SOMETHING because I was happy to have an old set of New England Patriots glasses that I received one at a time where I purchased gasoline.
Personally, I have had a bit more success at sports not involving throwing and catching a ball, like track and wrestling. I was a pretty good wrestler in my pre-high school days, but gave it up in high school. In high school, I ran track and cross country, and in college completed two full (26+ mile) marathons, but was never particularly fast. Still, I suppose I have a better knowledge of track and field than other areas of sports.
I do not mean to imply that I place any of these sports on a higher level than any other sports. My point is that in my life, lack of knowledge and skill regarding baseball, football, and basketball has placed me outside of what I perceive to be the mainstream, whereas my weakness at bowling is less consequential, and my weakness at curling and cricket is pretty much the norm among my neighbors. My college study of fencing rarely comes up in conversation.
It would be difficult to function in our society without at least a passing knowledge of various sports, if only to understand the metaphors. Phrases like "home run" are commonly used completely outside of sporting events. "Three strikes you're out" is often heard outside of baseball.
I, too, use these metaphors, and apply the lessons of sporting events to other areas of life, although I suspect that as a whole we would be better off if our society placed less emphasis on organized and especially professional sports, and less emphasis on competition in general -- but THAT is another topic.
Addendum --
I watched the entire second half of the Superbowl this year -- possibly the largest segment of the Superbowl I have ever watched in my life, and certainly the most since my childhood. I enjoyed it, at least partly because it was an interesting, well-played game.
Personally, I have had a bit more success at sports not involving throwing and catching a ball, like track and wrestling. I was a pretty good wrestler in my pre-high school days, but gave it up in high school. In high school, I ran track and cross country, and in college completed two full (26+ mile) marathons, but was never particularly fast. Still, I suppose I have a better knowledge of track and field than other areas of sports.
I do not mean to imply that I place any of these sports on a higher level than any other sports. My point is that in my life, lack of knowledge and skill regarding baseball, football, and basketball has placed me outside of what I perceive to be the mainstream, whereas my weakness at bowling is less consequential, and my weakness at curling and cricket is pretty much the norm among my neighbors. My college study of fencing rarely comes up in conversation.
It would be difficult to function in our society without at least a passing knowledge of various sports, if only to understand the metaphors. Phrases like "home run" are commonly used completely outside of sporting events. "Three strikes you're out" is often heard outside of baseball.
I, too, use these metaphors, and apply the lessons of sporting events to other areas of life, although I suspect that as a whole we would be better off if our society placed less emphasis on organized and especially professional sports, and less emphasis on competition in general -- but THAT is another topic.
Addendum --
I watched the entire second half of the Superbowl this year -- possibly the largest segment of the Superbowl I have ever watched in my life, and certainly the most since my childhood. I enjoyed it, at least partly because it was an interesting, well-played game.