Avalon

Underdog

Monday, June 28, 2010

I admit I have never been a fan of soccer, and I have not caught a single match for this year's World Cup. The last time the sight of 22+1 men running after a ball actually excited me to the extent that it kept my eyes glued to the screen for a full 90 minutes was 8 years back, during the final World Cup match between Brazil and Germany. I remembered supporting for Brazil, because being a total amateur to the game, rooting for the widely recognised winning team with a history of winning the World Cup 4 times (before that year) seems like common knowledge to me. Of course, we all know Brazil won and many rejoiced, but I realised the outcome was not particularly exhilarating, even to a self-proclaimed supporter of the team that won.

Years down the road, when any lingering interest in the game had been involuntarily dispensed, I found myself being reminded of the World Cup again by some friends. The few of them were particularly interested in one of the earlier games, the one between North Korea and Brazil. They talked about placing bets on the former just for the little hope that luck might favour North Korea, since the odds reflected by Pools were 1-300 (I think). That was when I actually thought it would not be too bad to go along with this, although I have never thought of contributing to Pools. (In the end we did not) And boy did N.Korea dished out a good gameplay, making Brazil feel the squeeze with a goal during the match. (Disregarding the proceedings of their subsequent one with Paraguay)

I guess we have always been taught to be first in everything, or to at least try to be. (Some die trying) It may be attributed to education background, parental upbringing or a well-established culture of meritocracy, but success has always been dictated by a win-lose dichotomy, following an all-or-nothing rule. The need for achievement motivates one to be on the winning side and avoid being on the losing end at all costs. However, as everyone engage in their own daily battles, it is highly probable that at some point in ones life, you will have to go head to head with one of those formidable giants playing you at your game. It is this time when you will hope that there will be people who believe in underdogs, not to celebrate the possible triumph of turning the tables on the opponent, but the spirit of fighting against all odds while armed with the mental preparation to fail, with ones head held high.

The following is a line quoted from the Paradoxical commandments,

"People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.

Fight for a few underdogs anyway."

Envoy of the Stars @ 1:50 AM
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