Victory in a loss

"Winning isn't everthing! It isn't whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game." Do you know who says that? People that lose! I understand the point of people telling their children that, it is to teach them that they cannot always win. But if we are competing, in a game or in an interview, we should play to win. Otherwise, what is the point of playing?

Anyhow, I was just thinking about how on the rare occasion a loss can be a victory. Now, admit it or not, we have all lost, or failed at something. And rather than give the old cliche about "moral victories" I am going to put something else out there. I am, after all, trying to keep it original around here.

So when does a victory come from a loss? I will tell you, Im good like that. A victory comes from a TRULY spirited effort when the odds are against you. Winning the fight is NOT the most important thing. The most important thing is the spirit in which you engage. Evander Holyfield got more respect from LOSING to Riddick Bowe, than he did in the rematch which he won. Evander was battered by the much larger and stronger Bowe, but fought back with such aggression and tenacity that he won the hearts of the audience. That match showed a lot of people that even in the world of prize fighting, the "W" column is not always the most important thing. Evander won the respect of the entire fighting world with a loss on his resume.

For the MMA fans out there, I have a GREAT example for you. If you have not seen it, you HAVE to see the Georges St. Pierre versus John Fitch match. It was 5 rounds of one-sided savagery from GSP. So why watch it? Because Jon Fitch showed the heart of a lion in that match. In a way that nobody foresaw, GSP unleashed his full arsenal on the brave but clearly out-matched Fitch. One punch LITERALLY knocked the snot out of Jon Fitch. But for all of the one sided beating that he took, Jon Fitch pressed the fight and fought on unfazed for 5 grueling rounds. At one point, GSP looked at the clock because he hit Fitch with his best shot but could not finish him. While visibly battered at the end of the contest, Fitch was NOT a broken man.

In Japan for example, winning and losing is NOT the most important thing. The win-loss record is inconsequential to the Japanese. In the days of Pride, some fighters were allowed to continue fighting even though they had losing records. Why? Because they ALWAYS gave all that they had. They entertained the fans more witht their hearts than with their skills. And so it should be. If a person can truly say tha they did their best, then winning or losing is arbitrary.

I think that somewhere in that reality lies the concept of honor. To do your best regardless of the outcome or the perceived outcome. I am all for winning, I prefer it in fact. But as a man, I can live with the fact that on a certain day I will not always be the superior artist. Fight your heart out, do your best, and you will find victory defeat.