It hasn't been the best of times lately, with Mitt Romney losing to President Obama, the Badgers losing for the third time in the Rose Bowl, and the Packers losing to San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoff game.
There is an ache in my chest and pain in my stomach that defies description. As someone who likes to write things down, I find it hard to put into words how it feels to accept defeat. All I know is that I hate to lose.
As a result of losing last November, I've seen those dumb-ass senators and representatives pass legislation that raises my taxes, puts me and my children in greater debt, and ignores the U.S. Constitution by proposing gun control through executive order.
The problem with losing in politics is that it keeps coming back time and time again. And it's usually shoved in your face. Don't like higher health insurance premiums, a record-setting number of abortions, legalized pot and a growing number of welfare recipients? Stick your head in the sand, you lost!
And thanks to our state-controlled media, we have to listen to ABC, NBC and CBS tell us that losing is good. Moronic shows like Comedy Central, The View, 60 Minutes and just about everyone in Hollywood remind us that they know what's best for us. We need gun-free zones to keep our children safe. Extend unemployment benefits through the end of 2013 because people are hurting. Gay marriage isn't a threat to traditional marriage, just another type of loving relationship between two people capable of raising healthy children. Quentin Tarantino is expressing his artistic freedom in "Django Unchained" because movie violence has no effect on society. And his movies are so cool.
Ughh! So not only did I lose, but now I have to change my opinion about why I lost. I lost because I was wrong, ignorant, bigoted, homophobic or racist. I think my head is about to explode.
* * *
Fortunately, sports isn't as bad as politics when it comes to losing.
Instead of a life-altering moment, it's more of a major disappointment. Something you can get over in a few days. Probably because there's another game to be played (and hopefully won).
Sometimes I don't realistically think we have a chance to win, but it still hurts to lose. Take the Badgers losing three games this year, all in overtime. I didn't think we'd beat Ohio State, but to be so close, force the game into overtime and then lose...it SUCKS.
I remember being in Eau Claire, WI for a school event when the Badgers lost to Michigan State on a Hail Mary pass as time expired. Prior to knowing the score, I was enjoying myself, laughing and thinking about picking up the paper the next day to read about another Badger win. (We were the better team, I reminded myself.)
Around 10 o'clock, a friend texts me a message about the game -- "Can't believe what happened to the Badgers! Unbelievable!"
I felt like someone had reached inside my chest and squeezed.
"No!" I imagined people around me thinking it's time to get away from this strange guy banging his head against the wall.
Suddenly all I could do was think about how everything had changed -- no newspaper, no checking the internet, no checking highlights on ESPN Sports Center and no watching the game on BTN the following week. All I wanted to do was remove all discussion of the game. My emotions were headed in one direction only to be jerked back in another. Up and down all in a matter of seconds.
The other thing about sports is that sometimes you lose in the first quarter, other times in the fourth. The Seattle/Atlanta football game last weekend is a prime example. Seattle had come back from being down by 20 points only to triumphantly take the lead with 35 seconds left in the game. All right -- what a comeback! Atlanta has a habit of losing these playoff games, so I was imaging them feeling here we go again!
But then within 25 seconds and two long passes by Atlanta, they kicked a field goal to win the game. I was asking my son who must feel worse -- Atlanta (who had led the entire game only to lose it with 35 seconds left) or Seattle (who was behind the entire game only to take the lead with 35 seconds left). And then losing it with that final kick.
I think it feels worse when you get a taste of victory only to lose it again. As in life, perhaps it's better never to have loved than to have loved and then lost it. You can't miss it if you've never had it.
I go to sleep only to wake a few hours later mad as hell. I relive the blown pass defense that allowed the other team to complete a Hail Mary pass at the end of the first half. Toss and turn a few more hours then finally fall asleep only to wake up again thinking about the tipped pass that could have been a touchdown.
I've been known to go outside -- in the pitch dark -- to rake leaves just to vent my frustrations over a bad loss.
I hate being so nervous about a game that I won't watch it or will turn the channel when the other team gets some momentum. I hate being down in the dumps for a day, not appreciating my wife, kids or even taking Bailey for a walk.
Some of you would say I take things too seriously. It's just a game, you say. Uh huh. Or wait until the next election when the Republicans get it right. Maybe.
The trouble is, I'm getting older and I realize that I don't have as much time as I used to. Maybe it will take the Packers another 15 years to get back to the Super Bowl. Do I have another 15 years? Will I care in another 15 years? Will I know a democrat from a republican? Will the country be the country I love in another 15 years? Or will Obama be in his 5th term as President? Sometimes there is never a "next time," which is kind of depressing. There have been some horrible losing streaks that would drain the green and gold out of any loyal fan.
The Minnesota Vikings are still waiting to get back to the Super Bowl after losing to Terry Bradshaw and the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1975. Northwestern University of the Big Ten has never tasted the sweet nectar that is known as March Madness in basketball. Equally depressing was their football team which finally won a game after 34 tries with a win over Northern Illinois on Sept 25, 1982 in Evanston. The win was so monumental that the students rushed the field, tore down the goal posts and tossed them into Lake Michigan.
There's the Cal Tech Beavers basketball team who ended a 310-game conference losing streak -- a streak that spanned 26 years -- by beating Occidental College 46-45.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1976 and it took nearly two seasons for the team to win its first game. The Bucs lost every game in the 1976 season and the first 12 games in 1977. The team's first win came against the New Orleans Saints, who promptly fired their coach after losing to the lowly Bucs.
The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns have never been to the Super Bowl, which isn't exactly a losing streak, but it certainly IS humiliating.
Of course the granddaddy of them all is the Chicago Cubs who have a 104-year championship drought in baseball. Could you imagine going an entire lifetime and never see your team win it all? Well, you could live 1.5 lifetimes and never celebrate a championship pennant in baseball if you were a Cubs fan.
So despite my recent losing streak, it could be worse. And perhaps that's why losing hurts so much. Because we're used to winning. We expect to win. We're not the Detroit Lions or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I've never been tempted to put a grocery bag over my head. The objective of this post (as with most of my comments) is to provide a cathartic outlet for venting my anger and frustrations. A chance to keep those tormenting spirits that haunt my sleeping hours at bay.
Of course the best way to get over losing is to win. A quick smile and high five at the joyous conclusion of a game of basketball, baseball or football.. For me, it's like someone gave me a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart.. There aren't too many things that are better (Liz, you are the exception).
Earlier this year we had Wisconsin Gov. Walker pull out a win after being recalled by a bunch of sore losers and union thugs. That was awesome. Sometimes it's more about watching who lost -- I couldn't wait to tune in the MSNBC to watch their sorry-ass announcers declaring Walker the winner.
Maybe my losing streak is coming to an end. The Wisconsin Badgers basketball team just beat the Indiana Hoosiers late Tuesday night 64-58, extending the Badgers dominance over Indiana, dating back to 11 consecutive games. During a season that was expected to be down in the dumps, the Badgers have managed to put together some recent wins, including this one which is their highest rated win over a home team -- at the time, ranked #2 in the country.
So let's hear it for the victors. Be it those football players who walk into the locker room -- bloodied and torn -- with a victory after 310 loses, or the second string bench warmers who only get into the game with a minute and 1/2 left .
It's much harder winning than it is losing. So even though Romney lost the election, I'm still going to fight for everything I believe in. Let's try a conservative next time and see what happens. And the Packers and Badgers will be back next year with a better team and hopefully a higher finish. New coaches, new players and faithful fans will take our teams to the promised land.
You see, one of the things all losers must have is never-ending optimism. Never give up, never back down. Because winners always think their glass is half full -- and so do I.
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