Lessons in Loss

Jalen Hurts walks off the field after the Eagles were defeated in the Super Bowl

This one hurts. As a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, it was hard to see them fall in the Super Bowl last Sunday, 38-35, to the Kansas City Chiefs. Watching the game up in Philly was amazing (and then also depressing). I had previously blogged about the Birds this year; it was perhaps the most talented team they have ever fielded. I expected another Super Bowl victory (that wonderful season five years ago is still fun to think on). Alas, it was not to be.

Defeat is painful. It is especially hard when there are controversial situations or conditions. This time around, there were two:

• They debuted a new type of turf for the game, and it was (apparently) quite slippery.
• There was a holding call late in the game that sealed the Chiefs' win. Many question if it was a fair call. 

With these things in mind, it was easy for people to make excuses and place blame about the loss. I'm delighted to see the players and coaches take a different approach:

None of the players (or coaches) blamed the conditions or refs. The player called for holding admitted it was so. (Aside: there is no doubt it was. The controversy was about whether it affected the outcome of the play—minor holding is frequently uncalled—but the player owned it anyway.) They were bothered by the field but knew both teams had to play on it. Nobody blamed teammates, but focused on their own mistakes. In the end, they displayed the maturity and class you would expect/hope to see.

Everyone 'loses' at times. Not just in sports, but in life; in little ways and big. Maybe your boss demands your project take a direction you don't like, your political party loses an election, or the family outvotes you on movie night. In any case, how you react when you lose speaks volumes about your maturity. The right response is not excuses or blameshifting, but humble acceptance, congratulations to the victor,* examination of what happened, and dedication to improving the things in your control. Thank you, Eagles, for modeling that.

*where warranted. I'm not suggesting you high-five the winners of family movie night