Like most soccer fans in America, the outcome of the game was not the one I had hoped for. In fact, the devastating feeling of coming so close to a World Cup title, only to have it slip away in the final minutes left me feeling a bit empty and left my 5-year-old son with his first broken heart from the world of sports. (He, too, is a Chicago Cubs fan, so I suppose, better for him to start learning how to deal with these types of things early.)
In America, we adore winners. Winning at all costs is held up as a trait to admire in our sports heroes. And in doing so, we tend to forgive athletes for their bad behavior and the bad examples they set on and off the field. It’s pretty obvious that there is a formula for winning America’s heart: You win. It’s that simple.
In America, we just don’t have much time for losers. Gold is simply much more attractive than silver. We are attracted to athletes who take home the biggest trophy. We need our athletes to be conquering heroes that don’t settle for anything less than victory.
As I watched the post-game interviews of the USWNT and read the quotes from our players, I realized that almost to a person, these players had set a new standard in American sports lore for exuding grace in the face of a painful defeat. I found their comments to be thoughtful, genuine, and inspiring for a father who’s trying to impart the all-important lesson of losing with grace.
Every single person in this country who plays a sport, will experience or have experienced both the joys of winning and the pains of losing. It’s inevitable. Just as we celebrate the heroism of our athletes that bring home the top prize, why don’t we also celebrate the athlete or the team that comes in 2nd gracefully? Why don’t we hold them up as the model for how to deal with tremendous sporting sadness?
Why couldn’t the “graceful-in-defeat” runners-up become something as attractive as the “never give up” winners?
Could these gracious silver medal winners kick-start the fledgling Women’s Professional Soccer
league with the way they handled dealing with the outcome this most painful game?
Could the disarming respect that the U.S. Women showed to Japan in the aftermath be the “sports bra” moment of this Women’s World Cup and attract mass media attention?
Could the players’ humility displayed in their post-match interviews bring in commercial appeal from potential sponsors who seek to connect with fans even though they didn’t hoist a gold trophy this summer?
And perhaps most importantly, could the example these players set with their gracious comments become a model for all of our youth to follow, boys and girls, when dealing with the cruel pain of losing.
Just imagine if it was you instead of them.
You’ve just lost the biggest game of your life on the biggest stage in the world. The game achieved a higher worldwide TV rating than had ever been achieved for a women’s soccer match. The comments about the game on Twitter set a world record. You just played in and lost an epic see-saw soccer battle that extended through 30 minutes of extra-time and a penalty-kick shoot-out. The media is swarming you. You’re banged up. You’re exhausted. You’re heartbroken.
Would you have the poise, the grace and the humility to say anything like these women said.
For all the admirable skills that the USWNT players demonstrated on the field over the past month, perhaps the most desirable trait that these women have was what we witnessed as they walked off the field for the final time in Germany yesterday: Losing with grace.
Read these comments for yourself. And then read them to your son or daughter. We could all learn a thing or two from these women.
On dealing with this loss:
“Evidently it wasn’t meant to be. We worked so hard. We believed in each other through everything. The Olympics are right around the corner and we’re excited about that opportunity. Hopefully we can qualify and get to London. This is going to hurt for a while and I’m proud of our team. We never gave up. Congratulations to the Japan team. I think their country is very, very proud of them.” – USWNT Head Coach, Pia Sundhage
On the disappointment of the result:
“We lost to a great team, we really did. Japan is a team that I’ve always had a lot of respect for, and I truly believe that something bigger was pulling for this team. As much as I’ve always wanted this, if there was any other team I could give this to it would have to be Japan. I’m happy for them and they do deserve it……
…..”It’s heartbreaking, but at the same time I think there was something bigger pulling for Japan. They were the team of the tournament and if there’s any team we’re going to lose to, I tip my hat off to them because they have so much class and play with so much passion and they fought and they fought and I really do have so much respect for the team.” – USWNT goalkeeper, HOPE SOLO
“If any other country was to win this, then I’m really happy and proud for Japan. Deep down inside I really thought it was our destiny to win it. But maybe it was Japan’s.” – USWNT midfielder, CARLI LLOYD
“It was a crazy game. I think that we played well and we fought and we had heart. That’s what matters. Hats off to Japan. They just made their country extremely happy and brought joy to somewhere that was needed and that’s the bigger picture.” – USWNT forward, LAUREN CHENEY
TWITTER COMMENTS FROM PLAYERS
HOPE SOLO @hopesolo
“Both teams playing a beautiful game with possession and attack as the focus. Its the way a final should be played. Glad you all enjoyed.”
“What do ya say we go for it again in another 4? ;)”
“I will embrace this silver medal and give my utmost respect for japan. Thanks to all friends, families, and fans who stood behind us.”
“To make sense of, but I know ill eventually look back with great pride. There’s no better team I could have been a part of.”
“These memories will last a lifetime. I’m incredibly grateful to have been a part of this amazing journey. Its all a bit foggy right now”
KELLY O’HARA @ kohara19
“So proud to be a part of this team. Thank you everyone for all the support.”
ALEX MORGAN @alexmorgan13
“I am a little heart broken. But we left it all on the field, and I am proud of this team.”
CARLI LLOYD @ CarliLloyd
“Thank you to everyone for your support. We brought our country together. The support has been awesome! @espn thank u for all the coverage!”
“This has already made me stronger as it will with our team. We are fighters. We are winners and we will bounce back and qualify for olympics”
“I thought it was our time. Our destiny but I guess it was japans and I am happy for them. They have been through a lot.”
“Words can’t describe the feeling right now. Sadness. Shock. We gave it our all and to know that everyone is still supporting us is amazing.”
LAUREN CHENEY @laurencheney8
“Still hurts but could not be happier and more proud to represent our nation. I love this team. #USWNT #wewillbeback”
“God is good and He provides. Japan just inspired and brought so much joy to a country that has been devastated. Praise Him.”
JILLIAN LOYDEN @jloyden
“proud to be a silver medalist. #blessed”
“Not the end that we want but what an incredibly journey,no one can take that away from us. couldnt be more proud to be an american right now”
ABBY WAMBACH @AbbyWambach
“Well, not exactly what we had planned. Congrats to Japan on a tremendous #WWC2011. So proud to be a part of this team and to represent #USA!
And the world’s most powerful sports brand is….
The most powerful sports brand in the world is Wayne Rooney's club, Manchester United
For anyone who doubted that winning on the field, leads to significant marketing dollars and opportunities off-the-field, Manchester United now can show off their latest piece of hardware: The moniker of world’s most powerful sports brand.
In the recent article from SoccerEx, advisory firm Brand Finance has made some rather startling conclusions as to the brand value of the reigning Barclay’s Premier League Champion. Most notably, that they now stand 6th in the list of the most powerful brands in the world and the only sports brand in the top 10.
1) Google
2) Apple
3) the BBC
4) Dyson
5) Facebook
Beyond that, the report goes on to laud the brand’s management under the stewardship of the Glazer family, who have encountered more high seas adventures during their time overseeing the club than a buccaneer on the Tampa Bay. In fact, the report says that the brand’s value has more than doubled during the time of the Glazer’s family leadership and went from $197 million pounds in 2005 to 412 million currently.
All kidding aside, the lesson that the Glazer’s learned from their NFL marketing experience is one that all clubs should take a cue from: On-field performance underpins financial success”. Sounds basic, but it’s simply a rule that gets lost in the shuffle with most football clubs all over Europe. Perhaps what made things easier was having a captain at the helm of this ship in Sir Alex Ferguson who not only knew how to get the best on-field performance, but had the tenure and the gravitas to serve as the de-facto Master and Commander of the brand. So while the names have changed — excluding Giggs — in the past six years, the brand has only been further built, shaped, enhanced, and highlighted.
After reading through the report, two questions remain:
1) How much higher can brand squad go? In 2011-12, will we see a 20th championship. Will the new blood of Chicharito and Ashley Young bring United even more hardware? DHL signed on recently as the endorser of the ManU warm-up jersey. I’m waiting a dedicated fragrance product to come out with sponsorship under the “ManPU” tagline and cross-branding from Axe to hit the store shelves sometime in 2013.
2) Dyson? Really? That just doesn’t make sense.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the ultimate brand manager for Manchester United