O Well, Nobody’s Perfect!
It’s been six hours now since one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history. The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots by three points, even though they were picked to lose by at least twelve. Up until last evening, the Patriots had yet to lose a game. Thus, with one more win and they would have gone down in history not simply as the 2008 NFL champions, but also as the best team in football history. They’d be the only team ever to win nineteen games in one season without one loss. For one season, they would have been perfect.
As the game came to a conclusion, I began to examine the one thing that’s always intrigued me (and sometimes bothered me) about sports athletes and fans: The Character of Winning and Losing. I observed how the coaches and athletes on television reacted to the result, as well as the reaction among the fans both in the media and where I was actually watching the game. I wanted to see if there were any good losers or poor winners. And I was certainly surprised by what I observed.
I saw Randy Moss, who would have been the hero had the Patriots won, exhibit the character of a good winner. Here’s a person who everybody labeled a bad character, but ended up having the best career year of anyone in football history who has played his position. Yet what I admired about him was the manner in which he handled the lost. He was not only congratulatory towards the Giants, he was complimentary as well. For me, that interview may have been one of his finest moments, but nobody will remember it because his team lost the game.
On the other hand, I’ve observed fans and media in the Boston area to be what I call: Poor Winners. It’s an attitude that says “We’re the best and you stink!” It’s not simply a warped sense of appreciation regarding how good the Patriots are, it also involves a depreciation or verbal put-down of others. On far too many occasions, there was even gloating, especially during the beginning of the season when the Patriots were simply destroying their opponents.
This can also happen in life. With our job going great, a wonderful marriage, fantastic grades in school, marvelous children, or a church growing by leaps and bounds there can be an attitude that not only says, “God’s been good to me!” but also says, “And obviously you’re doing something wrong!” It’s at these times when a painful loss in any of these areas tends to bring us back to what we really are: imperfect.
Losing something that really matters can be extremely painful but also beneficially humbling. Jesus sent His Spirit to work humility (meekness) into our lives (Galatians 5:22) because it was the one characteristic that He explicitly ascribes to Himself (Matthew 11:29). And after all, our goal in life is to be like Him.
It’s my hope that if the Patriots win the Super Bowl next year, our fans will express a little more humility during the season, especially after experiencing the pain of having lost the game last night. Nah, I doubt it! But then again, I invite your thoughts.
sending...
After the superbowl, one thing crossed my mind. There is only one game that is really important and that’s the last game of the tournament. Weather it be the super bowl, the finals, or the presidential election, only first place is ever remembered. Doesn’t matter how it is done, or how much (or little) effort it took.
Anyway, it is humbles me to know that underdogs can still win. Ironically that is how New England started out when they won their 1st superbowl. Oh well, now to basketball season, go Celtics!
Thanks for posting this, Bishop. I truly appreciate it. Last night game reminded me to always stay humble, because you never know what could happen. I also felt that maybe New England fans needed this type of “humbling”, because like you said, there’s has been a lot of gloating; not just only about the Patriots, but also with the Celtics (But I really hope the Celtics win!!) as well.
Well, this game certainly has made me keep some things in perspective.
Wowzers. Wowzers. Wowzers. Well just a month ago I was in perfect health and because of the blood of Jesus I claim healing and victory before I continue. So anyway as I was saying just a month ago I was in perfect health. 5 feet 8 inches about 100 pounds with lots and lots and lots of energy. I will say on January 7, 2008 I was invited to sing in Nigeria, Africa. However in order to go I had to get two vaccinations 1 for Hepatitis A and 1 for Yellow Fever. I went into the doctors office on January 10 and got the shots. Two days later I started to feel like absolute crap, absolute crap, absolute crap. I’m sorry Mother Greene (I know you don’t like that word) but that’s how I felt. I lost my appetite, started itching, very, very, very tired and my energy was gone. On January 16, 2008 I was sitting in JFK like I do not want to go anywhere. However I felt obligated so I went. God had mercy on me while I was there in that I had enough strength to do my job and take some pictures and the rest of the time I was SLEEP. So January 21, 2008 we were set to depart Nigeria to London to New York I almost did not make the flight because they thought I was to ill to fly. Satan is a liar. I mean I knew I needed medical treatment and I had to get home. So once again the Lord had mercy and I got home to New York on Monday January 21, 2008. Once I got home I slept for two days and just laid there. By Wednesday January 23, 2008 I was on my way to Mt. Sinai Emergency room where I was admitted and stayed until Saturday February 2, 2008. Woooooooooo Lord have mercy. Hospitals are not Ritz Carltons. The food, the smell was waring me out. However the doctors, nurses and staff took awesome care of me. Upon being discharged I was told that there was no diagnosis, that while they could not prove it I had gotten sick most likely from the vacinations. My liver had taken a seriouis blow and I was to go home and rest, rest, rest and EAT!!!! Well I’m home with my parents and following doctors orders and while this episode was not on my list of things to do in 2008 this is what I must go through. Do I know why? No. Will I ever no why? Maybe maybe not. However the one thing I do know is that because of this experience I have been sensitized to people who are sick whether spiritually, physically, intellectually, characteristically, emotionally and who need prayer. I’m not talking about some quick little prayer to say that I’ve prayed for them I mean intecessory prayer.
I have also been sensitized to doctors, nurses and hospital staff and the things they have to endure and have a better understanding of the kind of prayer that they need.
Most of all through this I have a great respect for my parents, Pastor Hunt and Pastor Dandridge (the pastors of my youth), Bishop Brian, Lady Carmen, the PT Family, Pastor Michelle White of Greater Faith Temple, Pastor Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle who have taught that PRAYER is the answer and that PRAYER changes things and that I must put my trust in God and God alone.
While this may have been a long reply I’ve shared to hopefully encourage someone. I’ve also shared because this time I will pass this test with a winning attitude, an attitude of meekness and an attiude of Christ. Please pray for me that I will be healed and never complain through this process.
Tiffany Lynette Anderson
(Lifelong member of Pentecostal Tabernacle)
I’m speaking from a Giants’ fan perspective (sorry Patriots fans) it was a life lesson to me to just stay focused and not give in to how it looks or seems and especially to what is being said about you. Without staying focused on the ultimate prize you can easily be swayed, gotta go now, there is a victory parade going here!