Would You Rather: Loser Edition

I hope you don’t mind a slight detour with this email, but we’re dipping our toes into football today.

Well, it’s more that this email was inspired by football.

As I’ve probably mentioned once or twice, I went to the University of Miami. The football team used to be very good 20 to 30 years ago and has never really reclaimed that glory since.

This season, they inexplicably started out ranked as a top 20 team. I thought, “Hmm, that seems very high,” and after a loss to Texas A&M last week where they didn’t score a touchdown, surely they’d drop out of the rankings, and order would be restored.

Somehow, the Canes hung on to #25 in the rankings, setting up a colossally disappointing afternoon on Saturday.

They lost to Middle Tennessee State, a school that had NEVER beaten a ranked team.

Until Miami. Who, if we’re being honest with ourselves, shouldn’t have been ranked in the first place.

The Blue Raiders dominated the entire game. They went up 10-0, then 24-3, and had a comfortable lead the rest of the way.

Miami gave up passing plays of 98, 89, 71, and 69 yards. Woof.

But is that the worst way to lose?

While this Miami game was going on, I was also eating copious amounts of carbs at a sports bar with some other friends who were supporting the Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns were playing the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In any sporting event, beating another team from your state is especially delicious.

For most of the game, it appeared as if Texas would do just that. They were up by two scores for much of the second half, but Texas Tech snuck back into things, even taking the lead with just 21 seconds left.

Texas made some nice plays in those 21 seconds and kicked a field goal as time expired to send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Texas immediately fumbled on its first play, and Texas Tech got the ball back. They drove down to the 2-yard line and then kicked a field goal for the victory.

Pandemonium ensued. Fans rushed the field, and Raider Red went wild, likely yelling stereotypical phrases such as “yee-haw” and “hootenanny.”

These two games made me wonder…which is the preferable way to lose?

This scenario applies to anything, not only sports. Would you rather just be thoroughly beaten down the entire time, knowing you probably won’t come back and will take the L on this one?

Or would you rather be ahead for most of the time, only to have that sweet victory cruelly snatched from your hands?

Whatever your preference, may your week be full of wins.