Good and Lucky

The postgame interview goes like this: a player/coach reflects, with an almost embarrassed tongue in cheek, on some moment where fate seemingly lent a rare hand in their eventual victorious outcome. They say, as if a concession: “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good.”

Cringing in what I’m about to write, after 40 years of both participating in and watching sports, here it is: “No matter how good you are, you will ALWAYS need some luck to win.”

Now let’s not get snagged by the luck/fate vs. sovereign God discussion; though worthy, it won’t help us here. Nor should we dismiss my thought with the equally valid “Good teams make their own luck” type argument. Yes, theologically I believe God is sovereign over outcomes, and yes, humanly I believe talent, preparation, and execution absolutely should dominate any discussion of increasing likelihood of victory.

But you won’t win without the ball bouncing your way instead of out-of-bounds, dropping through the hoop after bouncing seven times around the rim instead of clanking out; the bunt finding a dirt groove and journeying foul instead of trickling fair; the puck just nicking a skate enough to be re-directed into the net beyond the reach of the perfectly positioned goalie.

I’m not even talking about spectacular last second drama here. These are moments we may hardly pay attention to during a game, but cumulatively they help pry open the door to victory, or if on the wrong side, press in on it such that defeat is almost inevitable.

We don’t like talking about these spots in games much because losers sound like excuse making whiners to blame these anomalies and winners want to believe in their talent, preparation, and execution. I’m not suggesting we change our post-game interviews, neither to soften the blow for the loser nor to humble the winner.

But from a “study of sport” perspective, it just is what it is.

With apologies to every coach I’ve ever had who convinced me I could control outcomes through my extra effort, here I stand: It’s always necessary to be good AND lucky.

Editorial