Coach, when this happens ...
it may be time to take a step back. For me, I can truly relate to what you are talking about. When you champion a league for 15 years, you see a lot of people come and go. That's the nature of the beast.
For me, I think I stayed in the game too long. I loved bringing in Road Warriors and recruiting new members but being on the end of games where coaches felt they had to beat me at all cost really destroyed my interest in playing competitively.
I don't mind losing. I don't like to lose but I always play with great sportsmanship. My wife always use to complain to me that I always had to be the bigger person, even if I know things were not right in Denmark. Now, I have no interest in playing in tournaments, leagues, or anything else for that matter. If I play, I am just going through the motions.
When you've taken so many bullets over the years, you really feel its not worth your time and it is not fair to the people you are playing. I remember a game against a coach for the the right to go to the Super Bowl one year. All game, I had called whether I hit a pass or missed. In a very crucial play, I threw the pass and I know I hit the pass. One ref said I did not hit the pass and two refs said I did. I knew I had the best angle and would dare cheat anybody in this game. So the ruling is if there is a dispute, you challenge the call. He did and he lost the challenge. He continued to argue the call for another 30 minutes, wasting valuable time.
At that point, I wanted to just let him have the game. I offered to forfeit the game because I would rather not even be involved at that point. It's instances like this that has defined what I think is and always has been a problem at this hobby. I have seen guys not play others, try to create an aura about themselves, and have excuses because they don't want to lose and look at not playing as a victory in itself.
I have been blamed for cancer, marriage breakups, and not helping people in the league. I don't think none of this is true but it does tend to make you just go it alone. That's why this game is so beautiful You don't have to play with others to enjoy the game. We all played alone before we even knew of anyone else.
I think competition is great but when it is met with arguing ANY call when the rules state you can challenge the call or go by the refs word, then I am out. I now am about to play alone and this has been the most fun I have had in the game since my childhood.
That's just my take...
Reg
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