Straight from Main Street, USA, a reader writes to make his case for those who don’t care if anyone wins on Friday night. They just want to have a good time, and shake hands when it’s over.
A few weeks ago we received an email from a reader in the area – Anthony – who wrote to take exception with column we posted back on August 5th – Culture And Cluelessness Closes In On Competition, Winning. (https://pressprosmagazine.com/2025/08/05/culture-and-cluelessness-closes-in-on-competition-and-winning/).
He took exception to much of the content in that script, especially on the value of a champion mindset, and wrote to speak on behalf of “the majority who enjoys sports for something other than proving that you’re superior to someone else.”
“It’s hurtful for the 98% who play and watch high school sports when you write that if you’re not willing to be the best you shouldn’t get in the way of those who are. And that there’s a word for people who aren’t serious enough …’intramurals.’
When you write that winning is hard work, you discredit those who work just as hard to be a good team member. When you write that running a mile is hard, how is that relevant to people who don’t want to run a mile, just enjoy respectful participation, and not something that’s life-consuming?
You write, ‘Life, dammit, is hard,’ but for some it’s hard enough already without being a state champion. To many of us people are already champions for how they respect and treat others. And those people pay their bills and accept their responsibilities to each other, as you questioned.
You owe us all an apology for your privileged nonsense, and those from your generation. And for justifying it with what some irrelevant a–hole like Vince Lombardi said (who nobody knows and cares about), and calling it the standard for fulfillment in life.”
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Anthony, I’ll happily respond publicly to your issues, for the sake of apology, as you asked. But I’ll start by saying that I question your own privilege when your email comes from a public library computer. I’m 98% sure that the librarian was busy enough without researching Vince Lombardi for you, or to cover your tracks. You owe HER an apology.
The issue is reality…that an overwhelming majority of society still cares about ultimate achievement – winning – and they do it without believing they’re better than anyone else. They’re just playing the game responsibly, and to win. And I never questioned anyone paying their bills, just that personal responsibility is another challenge. Don’t pretend a narrative that doesn’t exist.
What matters is the challenge and achievement, as it has for centuries. Hard work is rewarded, and when it’s over it’s over. That’s all it is.
Running a mile is hard work, and it usually correlates to those willing and motivated to do more, naturally, to better their position. Hard work is the advantage, a deciding factor, and nothing more than a character trait as old as civilization, itself. And society usually benefits from the success of those willing to do more, and largely without appreciation. Don’t pretend that you want to rewrite history, because you can’t.
Publisher Sonny Fulks writes OHSAA and Ohio State sports for Press Pros Magazine.com.
And please don’t denigrate the term champion with believing that respect and decency is more virtuous than being competitive. Because, my old high school coach was famous for saying that “there’s always someone out there who wants it more than you do. And what are you going to do, give it to him?”
Is that your idea of how to play on Fridays? Because I know a whole lot of people in sports who love each other, and are humble and kind…but not on third down. And every one of them is a good team member.
Finally, there’s a reason why 100,000 people go to the Ohio State games, and it’s not to watch them hug and shake hands after the game. They want to see the Buckeyes win, and kindness can wait. 2%, I admit, go to hear the band. But the other 98% want to see them beat Michigan, and it’s hard to apologize for that.
And for the few that don’t…that’s why we have intramurals. It’s a good thing. Always has been.
Thank you, as always, for writing. And I’m pleased to defend the positions of my generation. A ‘privilege’ in fact.
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