Winning is good

Rating: 9/10 (18 April 2006)

First of all, I thought that this movie was very funny. I liked all the actors involved and I thought that they were all written well within their acting abilities. I actually LIKED this movie.
However, I am getting a little fed up with all this "competition is only fun if everybody wins" crap. This message is irresponsible. In every game there must be a loser. But that is what makes winning so fun; to strive your best and to achieve. Not because anybody GAVE it to you but because you EARNED the victory by your own right. Success in anything is not satisfying unless it is truly earned. Anything worth doing is worth doing right and doing best and worth STRUGGLING. The struggle is the best part! Now don't get me wrong, I do agree with the movie's other primary message that sportsmanship (winning with grace), is what makes the victor a real winner. I am glad for this message. Children can be so cruel to one another. I, myself was ostracized a great deal as a child. I moved around a lot (always the new kid) and was very poor. I smelled bad and other kids made fun of me ruthlessly. However, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and realized that no one was going to shape my destiny better than me.
Why am I saying this? Because the other message this movie is sending out is everybody has just as much right to win as anybody else. If I adopted that attitude I would be bitter and sad today. No. Those who are honest, hard working, and disciplined are the ones who have earned that right. Those are the ones who achieve.
Sure, sports are just games and should be enjoyed by all involved. And those who are more skilled should improve the experience of everyone involved by doing there best to improve the 'game' of the less advanced because 1) It increases the skill of adversaries, thus improving the competition 2) The losers become winners because they overcome themselves.
But the FUN is the honest to goodness competition and the dedication it takes to watch yourself improve over time and eventually come out on top. I'll say it again; the best part is the struggle! Winning is not bad, and all winners are not bullies. I win all the time now. These days I expect to win. I expect to win because I know that I can.
Anybody can win if they are willing to take on the challenge and the JOY of competition. Winning is good. Winning does not bullying.
Okay, maybe I took this movie a little too seriously.