The Importance Of Wins In Sports

A couple of weeks before our presentation, it was time to start looking over my chapter and figuring out what facts could be used to build a strong case. Reading through it, though, there appeared to be an apparent winning side already. Unfortunately for me, it was not mine. At the time, I was working 40 hours a week and taking a 15 hour semester, so, for a few days, every night after work was spent poring over the case.

Winning is the Only Thing: Sports in America Since 1945 by Randy Roberts and James S. Olson discusses the history of sports beginning with World War II, through the Cold War to present day. For the most part, this book discusses the effects that World War II had on the way sports were played and how the public viewed sports, however the underlying message was another. The book focuses on how people evolved with the changes that sports encountered. People’s perspectives changed from one of trying to make a living to trying to make the most money. As people changed sports changed, which in turn changed people again.

When they finish and their eyes open to see the reaction of the crowd, that is when they truly feel accomplished. Similarly, when I finished speaking, I felt as if my eyes had just “opened” to their surroundings. To my left, the judges were deep in their rubrics, slightly nodding their heads and raising their eyebrows. To my right, the other contestants, faces petrified as if seeing something that can never be unseen. In front me, a crowd of only around 30 students, now completely engrossed and clapping to a teenager in a baggy shirt and dress pants. I concluded that my purpose for delivering this poem was not to impress the judges with an emotional portrayal preaching respect. My goal was to leave the audience in awe simply for the message that David Wagoner and I were

I scrambled to my feet, wiping the blurriness of the drugs from my eyes, and catching my balance on one of the metal poles that supported the floor above me-- the first floor, as I was in the basement, judging from the unfinished look of the place. I took a step towards the stairs and found myself on the floor again, courtesy of the metal cuffs connecting the support pole and my ankle.

Tournament-by-tournament I formed a more humble sense of competition, gaining the rites of entry into the world of positive thinking. In each successive round, I willed myself to think optimistically, only focusing on debating the main topics at hand instead of worrying about the consequences of each said word. Veering from a well-travelled path, adopting an achingly slow pace and almost elementary-level diction compared to my conventional style was difficult and uncomfortable. Even though this meant dismissing any vanity for personal mannerisms, I developed a heightened sense of maturity and appreciation for my

In conclusion, the hockey team managed to overcome the odds and win the Olympic something that nobody thought was possible. Unity was achieved and the lost hopes that the public had at the start was reignited and they cheered on the team as a way to also cheer on the United States in the fight against the Soviet Union. Beating the Soviets in their own game was an incredible achievement that left a blow and inspired future athletes about what can be achieve with hard work and

In Damon Burton’s article, “Winning Isn’t Everything: Examining the Impact of Performance Goals on Collegiate Swimmers’ Cognitions and Performance,” (1989) he assesses the effectiveness of a goal setting training (GST) program and the impact it has on collegiate swimmers’ perceived ability, performance, and competitive thoughts, such as anxiety and confidence. In this study, males and females on the varsity swim teams of a Big 10 university either participated in a 5-month long GST program or they did not participate in any program. The season-long training period was necessary to allow athletes the time to acclimate to the program, master goal setting skills, and develop a competitive success history (Burton 1989). In addition, the GST program trained both athletes and coaches in order to create an environment that fosters the development of specific, short-term, and individualized performance goals.

Moreover, because we arrived earlier than the original time for the Riker’s island pretrial, we witnessed a brief trail which to me wasn’t informative because very little could be heard from what the judge, prosecutor and a different defense attorney were discussing. Since I could retain very little information from that trial, I took a quick glance at the interior structure of the court room. To accurately present the surroundings of the court room without interrupting the ongoing trail, I imagined myself standing at the door we entered through to the room. With my back facing the door, I pictured the room as having seats arranged much like how churches have long chairs that could occupy a number of individuals, a long aisle that separated the seating into sections of right and left with the male and female prosecutors of the cases chairs and computers in front of the seats on my right and the defense attorneys with their clients on the left. The seating sections for observers had ropes in front of them, separating them from where the prosecutors, lawyers, defendants, judge, security and the juror were seated. Both the right and left seats had the first roll of seats cleared by the security with have no sitting on them, a phenomenon that I still

Everything had led up to this moment. There were the remaining two finalists at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, ready to risk it all. I tensed my shoulders, ready to make the final jump that would land me onto the podium. After jumping off the bed and nailing a perfect landing, I was an all American gymnast. I ran toward the makeshift gold medal, a marvelous sight made of a single dollar coin taped to a piece of yard. I looked backwards to see how the other finalist had fared, and every compelling emotion swapped places for a single word: dread. Forty minutes later, we were at JFK’s emergency center, awaiting the results of my brother’s MRI.

When most hockey fans hear about the Vancouver Canucks, losing is one of the first things to come to mind. Even though the team hasn’t won a Stanley Cup during their existence, this thought of losing is false. By looking at the Canucks early years, their greatest players and their numerous trips to the Stanley Cup Finals, it is obvious that the Canucks were, and are, a competitive and talented

Floundering through stacks of beige manila folders, I gathered yellow papers containing facts and statistics. With anxiety and nervousness as my adversaries, I articulately spoke point after point against the other team’s arguments. Echoing off of the walls of the room, I declared “next,” “case,” “off case,” and “DA” after reading my evidence. Within a team, I was debating public policy with another team of people in hopes of persuading the ever-so-quiet judge to rule in favor of my plan over the other team. As the clock ticked for the eighth time, I ended my lengthy speech and announced, “ready for cross examination.” The opponents stood up and attempted to find holes in my logic through extensive inquisition. Yet, I did not relent; with

My palms are sweating, my legs are shaking, my mind is racing, and my chest is tightening. I feel butterflies begin to flutter in my stomach, and it feels as though the weight of the world is on my shoulders. “Closing argument,” the judge says to me. I must stand up now; I have to bring this home for my team. I feel like words cannot escape my mouth, but I manage to respond, “Yes, Your Honor.” While the jury is still writing comments for the defense’s closing argument, I attempt to conceal the anxiety. They look up expectantly, awaiting the beginning of my speech. I think back to myself as a timid elementary school student starring in the school play for the first time, and I realize how much I have grown since then. As soon as I gain the courage

The next few hours went by in a blur of laughter, performing, and the scent of pizza brought in for students to eat. Soon the school hosting the tournament lead us all to the their large gymnasium which still smelled faintly of sweat and was oddly humid. It is normal for the school hosting the tournament to walk up to a wall and tape large rolls of paper to the wall so that when they were ready they would reveal who had made it all at once. Hugging my teammates tightly in anticipation, we waited for the countdown..3...2…..1. The once quiet gymnasium was filled with screams and jumping power suit clad teenagers. I scanned the paper with my category and I didn’t see my name. I reread it hoping I made a mistake and still I didn’t see my name. I didn’t have time to feel sorry for myself because it seems like nearly everyone on my time had broken to finals. Now was the time for congrats, hugging, and support not

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has energetically inundated himself into debate by declining to remain for the playing of the national hymn in challenge of what he esteems are wrongdoings against African Americans and minorities in the Assembled States.

Winning is every coach or player's main goal in any sport or in life. Although winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Coaches spend countless hours preparing for a big game and this builds up the fear of a loss. No one wants to lose after you dedicate hours upon hours on the court and in the books scouting and preparing for a game. Therefore, winning becomes the only option for you and your team. Throughout this persuasive essay, dedication, toughness, and ** will explain why “winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.”