Celebrating Mediocrity

So the other day m buddy Derek buddy came in and told me he was heading to the Phillies game and he was really excited because it was the day that the Phillies were going to get their National League Championship rings. I felt bad to rain on his parade but to me the idea of the Phillies getting rings is completely ridiculous and seems to be becoming a standard in American society today. Just a quick clarification, the Phillies did win their league, the National League, but they lost the World Series to the Yankees. Although they technically were champions of their league, they were in second place overall in MLB.

This is just one example in my mind where this country celebrates mediocrity, or celebrates just doing okay. I was raised in a house where I was always taught to do my best, even when my best caused me to fail. But I was always taught to give my best and I just feel like in this day and age people are encouraged to do less than that. Examples of such are NCAA DI schools that make the Final Four in basketball getting rings, giving trophies to everyone in a youth sport, and even getting a ring for winning a conference championship or winning any bowl game in college football. Granted I may be biased because I was fortunate enough to be a National Champion for soccer, but I feel that it is just creating a bad culture in our country because it teaches kids to be okay with doing less than their best and still being rewarded.

I have no clue how to do anything about it, it just was fresh in my mind and so I felt the need to share.

Much Love,

GM