Most people who’ve swung a golf club would be familiar with the name Jean Van De Velde. In 1999, the affable Frenchman was responsible for one of the more spectacular capitulations in tournament golf history. Needing only a minor disaster on the final hole to win the British Open, Van de Velde conjured up a complete catastrophe, spearing shots left and right, into creeks, out of rough into sand.
It was golf’s very own Shakespearian tragedy, with Van de Velde cast in the lead role – a bit of Othello, Hamlet and King Lear rolled into one.
History books show that Van de Velde eventually lost in a play-off, but what they don’t show is the openness and gracious manner in which he accepted his fate.
“My life will go on,” he said. “The sun will rise in the morning, and I will get on with living. I would have liked to win, but I didn’t. So what?”
Or words to that effect.
Week in, week out, season in, season out, athletes and other sporting types are challenged by similarly searching tests of character,
How do you respond when things don’t go your way? During the game, in the race, on the course, at the selection table, or even behind boardroom doors?
It’s way beyond important, because these are the times we are watching closest.
Do you accept your fate? Do you take personal responsibility, or do you play the blame game? Do you have a swipe, or do you bite your tongue, and let others decide for themselves whether or not you’ve been harshly done by.
Over the years there have been countless examples of exemplary behaviour, where sports people – athletes and coaches – have emerged with heightened respect – even popularity – on account of their stoic response to adversity.
The Shark at the US Masters in 1996, like Van de Velde, losing an apparently un-losable major, 5000m runner Craig Mottram tripped, a lap and half shy of Commonwealth Games Gold in 2006 – no excuses. That’s racing.
Cricketer Michael Kasprowicz, not a peep, any of the 12 times he was dropped from the Australian Test side. So too Super 14 Rugby coaches David Nucifora and Ewen McKenzie, “rissoled” mid-way through successful seasons. Never complained publicly, just got on with it.
Focused on what was ahead.
It’s the easiest thing the world to be magnanimous after you’ve won. The true test is “bad day form”. When the cards haven’t fallen your way.
Bad day form applies just as readily in business circles – the missed tender, the promotion that falls the way of a colleague, the unexpected redundancy after 10 years of hard work and loyal service.
Do we have a bleat, blame everybody else, even come up with a couple of conspiracy theories? Or do we shut up? And let others make up their mind for themselves.
Ask Ricky Stuart what he thinks. As they say, excuses are for losers.
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