Winners and Losers

Great game last night. The best part for me was being distracted from my current ill-health for a while. That's one of only a few compelling arguments for television. It is good for people who are sick or sad or really, really old.

The second best part of the game was rooting for a guy who is almost my age. Curt Warner went to The University of Northern Iowa, Diane's Alma mater. He was third on the depth chart until his senior year when he went on a tear and became the Player of the Year in the conference. Warner's age and the fact that they had never gotten near the Lombardi trophy sort of made it inevitable that I would be rooting for Arizona last night. No offensive to the Steeler fans out there though. After that crazy two-minute drive at the end of the game, Pittsburgh definitely deserved to win.

What a Herculean effort on both sides. Arizona is castigated all month for their poor defense and then they come through with several goal line stands. Sure, it was one fewer than they needed but if you have actually played this game, it is tough to say that the Cardinals lost. That's just sort of a screwy aspect of our culture. All those games, all those elections, all those reality shows. There can only be one... It'll wear you out if you take it too seriously.

Anyway, congratulations to the Steelers, the city of Pittsburgh and to all their fans. And hats-off to both team for taking what is really just an excuse for a big party and still giving 100%.

Here's a couple of other comments on winning and losing:

Well there's people and more people
What do they know know know
Go to work in some high rise
And vacation down at the Gulf of Mexico
And there's winners and there's losers
But they ain't no big deal
'Cause the simple man baby pays for the thrills, the bills,
the pills that kill
(John Mellencamp, "Pink Houses")


He wants to dream like a young man
With the wisdom of an old man
He wants his home and security
He wants to live like a sailor at sea

Beautiful loser, where you gonna fall
When you realize you just can't have it all

He's your oldest and your best friend
If you need him he'll be there again
He's always willing to be second best
A perfect lodger, a perfect guest

Beautiful loser, read it on the wall
And realize you just don't need it all
You just don't need it all...

He'll never make any enemies, enemies
He won't complain if he's caught in a freeze, no
He'll always ask, he'll always say please

Oh beautiful loser, never take it all
Cause it's easier and faster when you fall
Oh you just don't need it all
(Bob Seger, "Beautiful Loser")