Losing is a disease...

IOC Badminton Disqualifications 


"...What is losing?  Losing is a disease...as contagious as polio.  Losing is a disease...as contagious as syphilis.  Losing is a disease...as contagious as bubonic plague.  Attacking one but infecting all...but curable"  - The Natural (1984)

How true is this scene from one of the best sports movies of all-time.  Losing.  The worst thing an athlete wants to do.  Winning.  The only thing an athlete wants to do.  This is apparently not as commonplace as once thought.

The past few days the Olympic spirit has been compromised by the athletes from a few select countries who compete in badminton.  The athletes were found to have purposely lost matches in order to gain a better draw in the knockout portion of their tournaments.  The countries in question were China, South Korea, and Indonesia.  Their athletes were super talented with ability unquestioned.  They were; however, deliberately throwing matches in order to personally gain what they felt was a competitive edge.


DQ'd Chinese players Yang & Wang. 
    
Their philosophy was the exact opposite of what the Olympic games stand for.  The athletes competing in not only badminton but every other sport have worked extremely hard for years to have this one opportunity to excel at the highest level.  They leave their blood, sweat, and tears during years of training and the days of competition here in London.  They have shown an ability to win and beat high level competition when giving their best.

The thought athletes would purposely lose and do so in order to help them win is ridiculous.  They are Olympic athletes.  The best in the world.  So they feel losing on purpose to not face certain teams in the quarterfinals would be the best option?  They must not have that much confidence in their ability to win and take on the best and beat the best.  What a cowardly and idiotic way of thinking. 

When you are setting yourself up to lose and not giving all of yourself to strive for victory it is completely  obvious.  The teams were so ludicrous in their inability to "play" the crowd saw it crystal clear and was booing in utter disgust.  Those in attendance felt slighted and cheated in their experience.  They were their to see the best in the world and they got a bunch of chumps swinging wildly at shuttlecocks.

Throwing matches and games always comes back to haunt you.  The 1919 Black Sox scandal had some of their players throwing the World Series and it was obvious to all involved.  In their case it kept players from being elected in the Hall-of-Fame like "Shoeless" Joe Jackson.  It never leads to anything good.  You either get caught doing so and suffer the consequences or you play so horribly it causes the players time to regain their level of excellence and hurts further performances.


The world then was saying, "Say it ain't so Joe". 

You usually see this at the end of a baseball season or a football season when teams lock up playoff spots and "take off" the rest of the games by playing reserves.  It usually backfires and the team is not ready come playoff time and they lose.  Again, losing is a disease.

The part I hate the most is knowing kids around the world are watching the Olympics and seeing their countrymen make a mockery of this glorious event.  I am so glad it didn't involve the United States.  The Olympics only comes every four years and they are treating it like it is every four months.  Letting kids know, in their minds, it is OK to give half an effort.  This is not and never will be acceptable.  

Athletes all over the world fight, scratch, and claw at trying to become an Olympic athlete.  There are plenty of people who would trade places with these disgraced group in order to represent their country.  They just weren't good enough to have an advantage athletically.   

Players and teams have been trying to gain competitive advantage for years in various sports by using corked bats in baseball, steroids in track, and filming practice sessions in football.  You name it they have tried it.  We need to show kids and new prospective athletes the right thing to do is play within the rules, play fair, and give maximum effort.  It is also key to teach to face their fears.  Don't take the easy way out.

 
 Anyone remember Spy-Gate ???  The NFL does. 

When you stop doing things the right way and start cutting corners it makes it that much easier to do it again the next time.  Just like criminals they are usually bound to re-offend.   

What the Chinese, South Koreans, and Indonesians did was forgivable and they were rightfully disqualified from the tournament.  They have shamed their country and will be remembered for it.  It will serve as a lesson to all athletes, coaches, and parents of future athletes to always do what is right and give your all for the love of your country.  If you are lucky enough to be an Olympian and represent your country they are counting on you. 

Losing IS a disease and the cure is playing with pride.