Le Basketbawl

“If you can accept losing, you can’t win.”  Vince Lombardi

If you read the paper or watch the news you hear all the time about how all these Frickin “So Called Experts” say that our Great Nation is losing our edge. That by the middle of the century we will no longer be the greatest power on the Planet. New York Vinnie is not really sure if he agrees with that or not; however if it is true it is because of one thing. We are no longer as tough in the USA when we were back in the day; when guys like the Late Great Vince Lombardi and my Late Great Grand Pops ran the country. We are now in a lot of ways a nation of Frickin Sissies.

My Pops idolized Lombardi and said outside of my Grand Pops he was the toughest man to ever walk the earth. The following quote was reportedly made by him during his coaching days “If you can lie down you can sit up. If you can sit up then you can stand. If you can stand then you can walk. If you can walk you can run; and if you can run you can play football.”

Could you imagine a coach in this day and age making a Frickin statement like that? Those four Frickin Hens on “The View” would be cackling about it for months! A professional sports coach could not make that statement in our present day society; he would be called a barbarian! No; Lombardi was not a barbarian he was a competitor he hated to lose and did what ever he could within the rules to make sure he won. Lombardi of course was the coach of the Green Bay Packers and won the first two Super Bowls.

“Slam Dunk Central” has reported that on a conference call  press conference on Monday Indiana Team President Larry Bird said that during his playing days he never shook the hand of an opponent after he lost. Bird who is a member of the Basketball Hall Of Fame from his playing days with the Boston Celtics hated to lose. New York Vinnie never once remembers hearing anybody calling Larry Bird a poor loser.

Unless you lived under a Frickin glacier this summer you are well aware of the heat LeBron James took this Summer after refusing to shake hands with members of the Orlando Magic after the Cavaliers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. LBJ said that to congratulate them would have been like congratulating someone for beating him up. LeBron for the first time in his NBA career was absolutely ripped by all aspects of society; New York Vinnie agreed with him then and still does today. New York Vinnie would not have wanted to shake his opponents hand either in that situation.

What is the big deal about being a “Good Loser” anyway? The NBA gives out all sorts of awards at the end of the regular season. Have you ever seen one handed out for the “Nicest Loser“?  Has anyone ever received a job because they are a “Good Loser“; is that something you would put on a job application as a strength? Have we ever elected a leader in this country for being a “Good Loser“? Of course not; the only contest that they give out an award for being nice is the “Miss America” contest. How soon do you think it will be until the NBA establishes a “Mr. Congeniality” award?

You know where this comes from? It starts with the way we raise our children these days; everybody gets a turn at bat. Everybody plays; however that is not the way real life is. The spoils go to the victor, right? Have we become a Nation of Frickin Wussies?

As far as New York Vinnie is concerned I agree with Lombardi, Bird and James. I don’t like to lose and I am not pleasant when I do. I will never be a “Good Loser.”