Winning

In Winning Actually Isn’t the Only Thing (The Washington Post) David Maraniss argues that the blown call at the end of the Green Bay Packer game is indicative of larger problems within the NFL and the United States. He argues that the “winning is everything” attitude that was shown by the Seattle Seahawk coach (Pete Carroll) and the quarterback (Russell Wilson) is the real problem. The fact that the Seahawks celebrated like they somehow earned the win, as opposed to being awarded the win based on nothing but a clearly incorrect call shows this winning is everything attitude. That it is the win that matters, regardless of how it is achieved. He further argues that the call is not really the fault of the replacement refs; but the fault of the league for looking after the pocketbooks of the team owners (by not paying the regular refs better), not the good of the game.

            I do agree that this attitude is prevalent. I also feel that within the game of football winning is the only thing that matters. It is what determines if you make the playoffs. It is what decides home-field advantage. And winning is what decides who gets to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The problem is that the call Monday night was in many ways outside of the game of football. It was clearly the inexperience of the refs that made this call happen. A dispute between the NFL and the Referee’s union should not decide a winner. But it did. So I do agree with Rick Maraniss. Even if a team plays badly but gets lucky then celebrating a win is fine. But this was beyond luck, and should have been treated by Seattle as such. After all, they do get the “W” no matter how they react, so being humble about it couldn’t hurt when it happens under these circumstances.