THE AGONY OF DEFEAT AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE IN SPORTS

I have watched the past few weekends of NFL playoff football with a certain amount of reservations about post-game reactions on the football field by the players.

There is kind of a light atmosphere as buddies from both teams renew friendships and find the time to laugh and smile only moments after the end of the game.

Part of me says good on these guys for their ability to dial down so quickly and re-focus on their non-football lives.

Maybe these guys have put things in perspective as they separate a game from their real lives. A post-game ability to mix freely and without anger with opponents should be a good thing and an ultimate sign of good sportsmanship.

Then I think; “What a crock”.

Half of the guys on the field have a very good reason to laugh and smile after the game - they just won. The other guys have little reason to feel the same way minutes after the game because they are done for the year. A championship is out of the question and they now face the long odds of next year country for another opportunity.

Most football players at this level have dominated at every step on the way to the top. Part of it is natural ability and most of it is a relentless will to be the best in the game. These guys will do whatever it takes to run at the front of the pack. It is in their DNA, whether they play football or checkers.

Which beings me back to my original point: Is it really OK for a losing football player to put the previous 60 minutes of intense battle behind him so quickly? Maybe it is, but I don’t think I would want too many of these guys on my team if I was a coach.

Too much of this kind of attitude can make you an unemployed coach.

COMMENTS

DENNIS:"'I've got no sympathy for professional spots figures at all.If you can't manage to "Cope" for 5 million dollars a year, maybe you should pack up your guns, kiss all the little "Trophy Groupies" good bye, get in your Lamborghini and go look for an easier job."