By Jeff Bell.
The last of the home and away rounds had been played. Earl was proud as a peacock.
“We’re in the finals Larry,” he beamed. “Looks like you guys miss out again.”
“Hmm, so what does that really mean Earl?” said Larry.
“It means that we fly for the cup and you guys sit in the cellar for another summer, my friend!”
“You seem like someone who has created this all by himself, said Larry. Pride comes before a fall.”
“What do you mean? Pride is a perfectly healthy, normal emotion Larry. Where would we be if we couldn’t feel proud of our many things in our life.
“Well, there’s pride and there’s hubris.”
“Hugh-who?! What is that?”
“Hubris is excessive pride Earl. I thought that you would know that—it’s one of your specialties.”
“Yeah, whatever, Larry. I’m just saying that my team is right up there, posed for another premiership. While, you guys…haven’t even won one! Suck on that!”
Earl was in flow. There was nothing that could deny how superior he was feeling.
“Let me ask you something Earl,” said Larry.
“Give it your best shot! Loser.”
“OK, alright Mr Smartarse.” Larry was losing what little remained of his tolerance.
“How can you take so much credit for something you don’t even own?”
“’Own’, what do you mean ‘own’? OK, I don’t own it, it’s just that you can’t have it and you’re jealous!”
“No, you’re missing the point,” said Larry. Trying to remain composed. “The point, my friend, is that you are taking far too much from this. It’s something that you are riding on, but you haven’t paid the fare.”
“What are you talking about Larry, I pay my membership fees, I pay for entry to the ground. I go to every home game. And I deserve to be there.”
“But their success has nothing to do with your efforts Earl. You are not the talented on-baller, the fearsome ruckman or the soaring centre half back. You are not the exemplary coach.”
“Careful Larry, you are waxing lyrical,” said Earl, “and blind Freddie could see that you’re just a bitter supporter who’s never won a flag.”
“There you go again,” said Larry. “You have never won a flag, I have never won a flag. Neither of us will ever win a flag, because we are not in the game we are mere spectators.”
“Yeah, so what Sherlock?”
“OK, your team is winning, but what if they had not made the finals?”
“Like you losers, you mean?” grinned Earl.
“Like your team 5 years ago, do you remember that? You left town for the finals, nowhere to be found.”
“Yeah, I had some important business to tend to.”
“Yeah, that’d be right; you’re a sore loser Earl. And you’re a puffed-up winner. You are pretending that someone else’s success is your own.”
“Well that’s what the whole footy industry is about. That’s what all spectator sport is about. We root for our team! We are as one with them!”
“Good for you Earl. And I’m not saying this is just about you. We all do it. Whole countries do it! But we can be better than that. You know, George Bernard Shaw said: ‘Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.
“That’s an accident of birth that has caused millions of people to go to war over the centuries.”
“What are you talking about Larry? All this is because we’re in the finals and you’re not?”
“No Earl, you’re entitled to your enjoyment and high performers deserve recognition for their achievements. That’s to their credit. Let’s not steal the credit. It makes us look desperate—as if we haven’t created anything to be excited about. Let’s maintain our sense of proportion, Earl.”
“Jeez, so what if I do anyway Larry. What’s it to you? Can’t I just go along in my merry credit stealing way?”
“No, you’re better than that Earl; we’re better than that. We take responsibility. We make a contribution. We share the benefits. We don’t have a sense of entitlement.
“And we act with humility Earl, not hubris.”