I’ve learned over the last 30 years you gotta enjoy the losses just as much as the wins. I know that’s not a popular opinion here and back in the Bruins Nation days, but it works for me. Just the fact that I Ike to (and get to!) cheer on UCLA football is pretty special…
I wholeheartedly agree. My expectations are always sky high. I’m sure you remember how good it felt when we saw the basketball team barely miss the final. But for a forty foot running jumper we might of beat Gonzaga!
I’m really looking forward to UCLA Athletics this year, that said, a Final Four is a rare thing, who knows when we’ll be back, but I’m a enjoy the ride!
When it comes to games like our last loss to the Zags in the Final Four, of course I appreciate and enjoy how well we played, even though we lost. However, when it comes to the games like our losses to Stanford and $C in football where we should have won it had it not been to inexplicably poor decisions by Kelly and individual players, I truly find it hard to enjoy the losses..
I love Ted Lasso, even if I can't italicize it in a comment. And I love it even more for two specific moments. First, when Ted is decorating his new office, he hangs up a signed copy of Coach's Pyramid of Success. And in a more recent episode, he responds to a question of what he is going to do that day by saying "Make today our masterpiece". That's quality and class right there.
I may have once written something about the Grinnell football coach who, upon seeing another game slipping away, told his players on the sideline, "Cheer up, boys, all hope is lost", or something to that effect. And while I totally understand that sentiment, I've always been troubled by it at the same time. It's tough to balance the peace of self preservation with the possibilities, and vulnerabilities, of hope.
But one thing is for certain, when the losses or shortcomings happen, the disappointment is easier to tolerate and overcome when I'm surrounded by my fellow Bruins, and that's why this place and all the people here at TMB are so so important. I'm not yet ready to cede the joy of success in order to avoid the pain of failure, so I'll continue to play and compete and care - and sometimes lose - because it's worth it when it's for the right team and teammates.
I need italics again here...
It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning—— F. Scott Fitzgerald
I so enjoyed reading this. It doesn’t just apply to UCLA football though. There are a lot of teams that have that same identity. Va Tech. Arizona State. Wisconsin. North Carolina. Georgia. ( seriously… ) Tennessee.
Haha!! I like Danny Rojas quote “futbol is life” - which is Sooooo TRUE!! ⚽️
But I’d think “sports in general is life” and hence is the reason why we all come here to cheer and commiserate.
I spoke to my mom the other day, and she was rambling about my old man watching sports all the time. I told her that for those who don’t understand the concept of sports, they just think it’s a bunch of men/women behind a ball, but to those of us who live and breathe sports, life itself revolves around it. Joy, heartbreak, hope despair, all the feelings one can go through. It also teaches, not quitting, loyalty, love, hard work; etc. Aspects that are fundamentals of life.
Every season, I root for UCLA to finally give us alumni and fans that joy of a championship, it hasn’t happened yet, but as long as we move in the right directions, it will come.
My son gave me a set of books called the UCLA Football Vault, I look at it often.
I've got a hot take of an athletic director theory I'll share one of these days.
I’ve learned over the last 30 years you gotta enjoy the losses just as much as the wins. I know that’s not a popular opinion here and back in the Bruins Nation days, but it works for me. Just the fact that I Ike to (and get to!) cheer on UCLA football is pretty special…
I wholeheartedly agree. My expectations are always sky high. I’m sure you remember how good it felt when we saw the basketball team barely miss the final. But for a forty foot running jumper we might of beat Gonzaga!
Which I still refer to as "the circus shot", but wow what a game!
Actually the UCLA Gonzaga game was so much better than the final! Gonzaga was pretty much outa gas after that!
I’m really looking forward to UCLA Athletics this year, that said, a Final Four is a rare thing, who knows when we’ll be back, but I’m a enjoy the ride!
What a cool video. I love hearing his comments and insight along the way. Can't wait to see what Clark turns into this season!
When it comes to games like our last loss to the Zags in the Final Four, of course I appreciate and enjoy how well we played, even though we lost. However, when it comes to the games like our losses to Stanford and $C in football where we should have won it had it not been to inexplicably poor decisions by Kelly and individual players, I truly find it hard to enjoy the losses..
I hear you. Those $C games are especially painful…
Beautifully written!
Fantastic piece, DD! Hearts galore.
I love Ted Lasso, even if I can't italicize it in a comment. And I love it even more for two specific moments. First, when Ted is decorating his new office, he hangs up a signed copy of Coach's Pyramid of Success. And in a more recent episode, he responds to a question of what he is going to do that day by saying "Make today our masterpiece". That's quality and class right there.
I may have once written something about the Grinnell football coach who, upon seeing another game slipping away, told his players on the sideline, "Cheer up, boys, all hope is lost", or something to that effect. And while I totally understand that sentiment, I've always been troubled by it at the same time. It's tough to balance the peace of self preservation with the possibilities, and vulnerabilities, of hope.
But one thing is for certain, when the losses or shortcomings happen, the disappointment is easier to tolerate and overcome when I'm surrounded by my fellow Bruins, and that's why this place and all the people here at TMB are so so important. I'm not yet ready to cede the joy of success in order to avoid the pain of failure, so I'll continue to play and compete and care - and sometimes lose - because it's worth it when it's for the right team and teammates.
I need italics again here...
It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning—— F. Scott Fitzgerald
Let's keep fighting. Go Bruins!
I so enjoyed reading this. It doesn’t just apply to UCLA football though. There are a lot of teams that have that same identity. Va Tech. Arizona State. Wisconsin. North Carolina. Georgia. ( seriously… ) Tennessee.
Real talk: I just needed a reason to talk about Ted Lasso.
Legit and totally acceptable.
Haha!! I like Danny Rojas quote “futbol is life” - which is Sooooo TRUE!! ⚽️
But I’d think “sports in general is life” and hence is the reason why we all come here to cheer and commiserate.
I spoke to my mom the other day, and she was rambling about my old man watching sports all the time. I told her that for those who don’t understand the concept of sports, they just think it’s a bunch of men/women behind a ball, but to those of us who live and breathe sports, life itself revolves around it. Joy, heartbreak, hope despair, all the feelings one can go through. It also teaches, not quitting, loyalty, love, hard work; etc. Aspects that are fundamentals of life.
Every season, I root for UCLA to finally give us alumni and fans that joy of a championship, it hasn’t happened yet, but as long as we move in the right directions, it will come.
Coincidentally, I was listening to "No One Likes Superman" just before reading this.