Broken trophies....
It's a wham-bam world and sports shows that as well as anything does in our times. It seems everything is faster- the athletes, the firing of coaches, the predictions, even the electrons, as social media immediately tugs at the edges of everything.
Winning is now measured frequently by money and fame. Power within sports is spread between so many hands and yet is still concentrated in so few. it is a rare ESPN news show that doesn't go into a GOAT discussion at some point.
And our everyone-gets-a-trophy approach to youth sports has backfired in a way that is obvious to many of us.
And at the same time, there are hundreds of videos online of sports parents rabidly attacking others while their children look on.
So what is winning?
Money. Power. Trophies..?
We've learned through the years that many efforts to win at all costs have perilous effects. Steroids and other dangerous supplements seem to be on the way out.
If it can be managed in this electric and fast-paced world, a more holistic approach to sports leads to an understanding of what is really winning. And rugby provides a great opportunity to access true winning.
Health and activity.
Lifelong friendships.
Opportunity to improve.
These are the best measures of winning in rugby and life.