In Business, Religion, School, Mental Health, everywhere you will find people who use sports analogies as a common aphorism for life. 4-quarter, overcoming adversity, etc. In this Romanesque culture, it's understandable, sports have become a centerpiece of our society. Athletes are routinely exhibited not only for their physical agility, but for their human interest. Sports for them are an outlet of the anxiety, frustration, and fear we all experience in our own lives, as well as the exhilaration, victory and glory we all long for. While I agree with Charles Barkley, that athletes should not be role models (Exhibit A: Michael Phelps), many athletes are indeed role models in addition (Exhibit B: Tim Tebow) to their abilities on the field.
My problem with most sports analogies is they usually only tie in a couple ways, either the "last minute do or die" or the "preparation will pay off when it counts" motif (Or none of the above in the case of Allen Iverson). You hear that on the championship stand. The problem for me is the regular season. The regular season of most sports is boooooring. As the most recent NHL champion proved, you really just have to make the playoffs, and anything can happen. Right now, whatever sports analogy you try to tie into my life, I feel like I'm in the middle of a long and strange 100+ game season. I can't even see the finish line. The playoffs are when things get interesting. Well, right now that's a long way away. And doing the little things, being faithful, etc are good ideas to apply.
The problem is nothing resolves like sports. There's not a next season a next time a next game. It's just an unending stretch of 3rd quarter. I think I will write a song called the 3rd quarter blues.
But in all, I think the reality is the problem is not sports analogies, it's life, and my interest in sports has wained terrifically. So don't be a sports person, because sooner or later, you won't be. It's funny how we pick and choose what zeitgeist to tap into, even though it's all vanity, maya, disarray, and in need of redemption, an imperfect reflection.
