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Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
- Thread starter zoofer
- Start date
Got 6 Want More
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Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
That is a shame because with about 64 NCAA D-1 teams with 25 players on the roster, and only 4 (or less) teams winning it all over a four year career, that sends about 1500 players out of college hockey every 4 years feeling unfulfilled.
I think there is something to be said for having fun, learning team work and getting a degree (some of them for free). But, hey, thats just me!
That is a shame because with about 64 NCAA D-1 teams with 25 players on the roster, and only 4 (or less) teams winning it all over a four year career, that sends about 1500 players out of college hockey every 4 years feeling unfulfilled.
I think there is something to be said for having fun, learning team work and getting a degree (some of them for free). But, hey, thats just me!
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
25 of which are St. Lawrence players each and every year.
25 of which are St. Lawrence players each and every year.
Carmine Scarpaglia
My bad.
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
sorry if I rinkled some feathers but that wasn't the point of the post. Anyone can have their opinion, I'm not saying they can't, but if folks here are "respected" and "longtime observers" than they also should have perspective....Be they Alum or not, I was trying to find out why a trophy or lack thereof negates someone's experiences and enjoyment from college sports....do any of us follow our Universities other sports, and have such feelings if they perform within their own sport without success? Are women sports a sham because they mostly end their sports careers after college? I think it's enjoyable to see how the other fans of the teams cope with their short comings....if you'll take notice, they don't seem to be as negative... they seem to have perspective on why we play the game....haven't all of us worked for someone who hasn't been involved in organized sports...they have no concept of team success and always worry about there own ego....it's more important to have been a part of the effort to me because that does last ......right got 6?
sorry if I rinkled some feathers but that wasn't the point of the post. Anyone can have their opinion, I'm not saying they can't, but if folks here are "respected" and "longtime observers" than they also should have perspective....Be they Alum or not, I was trying to find out why a trophy or lack thereof negates someone's experiences and enjoyment from college sports....do any of us follow our Universities other sports, and have such feelings if they perform within their own sport without success? Are women sports a sham because they mostly end their sports careers after college? I think it's enjoyable to see how the other fans of the teams cope with their short comings....if you'll take notice, they don't seem to be as negative... they seem to have perspective on why we play the game....haven't all of us worked for someone who hasn't been involved in organized sports...they have no concept of team success and always worry about there own ego....it's more important to have been a part of the effort to me because that does last ......right got 6?
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
When Boston College was going through their run from 1998-2001, it was all about the trophy. Once they won it all in 2001, I was happy to get to the Frozen Four and see what happens. The only Frozen Four that really sucked for me was 2007 considering how BC yakked up the title to MSU. Once you see your team win, the pressure is off and you can enjoy the seasons more. So I'd in the "journey" camp now more than just the "trophy" camp.
When Boston College was going through their run from 1998-2001, it was all about the trophy. Once they won it all in 2001, I was happy to get to the Frozen Four and see what happens. The only Frozen Four that really sucked for me was 2007 considering how BC yakked up the title to MSU. Once you see your team win, the pressure is off and you can enjoy the seasons more. So I'd in the "journey" camp now more than just the "trophy" camp.
Got 6 Want More
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Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
That is what I think. You set goals and what team doesn't want to win their league and the NCAA's, but I really believe college sports is all about the journey.
I also believe that for some programs it is not even about the journey (hockey-wise) but about the education / degree, but even for those teams the majority of players receive fulfillment from their athletic careers.
My perspective might have been different when I was 20, but now I see it for what it is, and it is all about the journey and for a few lucky and special teams it is about the trophy as well as the journey of the 40 games to get there.
That is what I think. You set goals and what team doesn't want to win their league and the NCAA's, but I really believe college sports is all about the journey.
I also believe that for some programs it is not even about the journey (hockey-wise) but about the education / degree, but even for those teams the majority of players receive fulfillment from their athletic careers.
My perspective might have been different when I was 20, but now I see it for what it is, and it is all about the journey and for a few lucky and special teams it is about the trophy as well as the journey of the 40 games to get there.
Puck Swami
New member
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Great post topic.
We all want the trophy - it's ingrained in American culture to be the best, and we are inculcated from birth with the idea that second place (or other places) are a failure. While that may be the guiding ethos for the strivers, the reality is that there is only one trophy winner.
To me, I look at the journey to excellence as a process. As a fan, I have experienced the exhilration of watching my team win it all, and nothing compares to that feeling at that moment. But a hockey season is a six month experience, that like life, contains highs and lows that carry us through each winter.And frankly, the many years of fun winters where I embrace the game, my school and my community in the hockey rink are more rewarding than any trophy my team wins.
To love a winner is great, but to love the game is the greater gift.
Great post topic.
We all want the trophy - it's ingrained in American culture to be the best, and we are inculcated from birth with the idea that second place (or other places) are a failure. While that may be the guiding ethos for the strivers, the reality is that there is only one trophy winner.
To me, I look at the journey to excellence as a process. As a fan, I have experienced the exhilration of watching my team win it all, and nothing compares to that feeling at that moment. But a hockey season is a six month experience, that like life, contains highs and lows that carry us through each winter.And frankly, the many years of fun winters where I embrace the game, my school and my community in the hockey rink are more rewarding than any trophy my team wins.
To love a winner is great, but to love the game is the greater gift.
thecomicbookguy
Nobody.
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Well said.
I liken it to the Olympics - watching the men's aerials, the final skier threw a tremendous trick, landed it, and everyone knew he'd won gold with it. The camera cut to the skiers who were currently in the medal positions, and the guy in third was clapping and cheering, a huge smile on his face - for a guy who just knocked him out of the medals (and they were not countrymen). The US skier, who had been in 1st until that final jump, upon seeing the score, and knowing that the results were final, that he had finished just behind the gold, was anything but bummed about finishing 2nd. To the contrary, he was pumped! It was not all about winning the Gold, it was about competing, about being there, about throwing the best trick he'd thrown in his life to that point, landing it, and knowing that he'd done his best.
I'm bummed that UNH lost to RIT, and that it was as ugly as it was. However, I'm not going to allow that to stop me from looking back fondly on this season. UNH may never win it all (cue the BC/Maine/etc trolls to confirm), but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment I feel watching the games, nor the pride I feel walking into the Whitt.
Further, I think the fact that UNH fans have gotten to this point is a testament to the effectiveness of the aforementioned trolls. They've beaten into our heads that the only thing that matters is winning the final trophy. I'm not going to lie and say that I'm perfectly content to never win - I'm not; I want nothing more in my sports-watching life than to see UNH celebrate on the ice and hoist that trophy at the Frozen Four. College sports, though, is about more than just winning the national tournament. I think many UNH fans have lost sight of that; some of which is understandable after a tough loss like Saturday night.
Well said.
I liken it to the Olympics - watching the men's aerials, the final skier threw a tremendous trick, landed it, and everyone knew he'd won gold with it. The camera cut to the skiers who were currently in the medal positions, and the guy in third was clapping and cheering, a huge smile on his face - for a guy who just knocked him out of the medals (and they were not countrymen). The US skier, who had been in 1st until that final jump, upon seeing the score, and knowing that the results were final, that he had finished just behind the gold, was anything but bummed about finishing 2nd. To the contrary, he was pumped! It was not all about winning the Gold, it was about competing, about being there, about throwing the best trick he'd thrown in his life to that point, landing it, and knowing that he'd done his best.
I'm bummed that UNH lost to RIT, and that it was as ugly as it was. However, I'm not going to allow that to stop me from looking back fondly on this season. UNH may never win it all (cue the BC/Maine/etc trolls to confirm), but that doesn't take away from the enjoyment I feel watching the games, nor the pride I feel walking into the Whitt.
Further, I think the fact that UNH fans have gotten to this point is a testament to the effectiveness of the aforementioned trolls. They've beaten into our heads that the only thing that matters is winning the final trophy. I'm not going to lie and say that I'm perfectly content to never win - I'm not; I want nothing more in my sports-watching life than to see UNH celebrate on the ice and hoist that trophy at the Frozen Four. College sports, though, is about more than just winning the national tournament. I think many UNH fans have lost sight of that; some of which is understandable after a tough loss like Saturday night.
The Hallucination
half-crazy half-insane maniac
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
I do not think this is really an either/or question. The journey counts, but the journey is incomplete without the trophy.
For example, for me as a Badger fan, in 2006, the journey was awesome, but the memories of the season are 100x as awesome for having ended with the trophy.
I do not think this is really an either/or question. The journey counts, but the journey is incomplete without the trophy.
For example, for me as a Badger fan, in 2006, the journey was awesome, but the memories of the season are 100x as awesome for having ended with the trophy.
STATEdude3
Registered User
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Generally I agree with this, but does this apply to all programs? Would RIT have an incomplete journey if they do not win it all in Detroit? I am not saying one way or the other is correct because I follow a program where winning is all that matters (and seems to be hard to come by lately), but I just don't know if this applies to all programs or not.
Got 6 Want More
New member
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Exactly. I am surprised at how many UNH "fans" are joining the chorus of the trolls! And, UNH has been close....a shot off a cross bar here, or a bad call or even a bad shift there has been the minute difference...
Puck Swami really articulated it well.
Exactly. I am surprised at how many UNH "fans" are joining the chorus of the trolls! And, UNH has been close....a shot off a cross bar here, or a bad call or even a bad shift there has been the minute difference...
Puck Swami really articulated it well.
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
RIT can be very happy with the journey.....why shouldnt they be. But the journey becomes less and less satisfying with time for those who want to be, but have not been, on top of the mountain. Like I said, sex is good and fun and all that, but kind of unfullfilling without the big O. At least that's my recollection.
RIT can be very happy with the journey.....why shouldnt they be. But the journey becomes less and less satisfying with time for those who want to be, but have not been, on top of the mountain. Like I said, sex is good and fun and all that, but kind of unfullfilling without the big O. At least that's my recollection.
Got 6 Want More
New member
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Okay, I'll buy that, but how did you get through all the date nights, chick movies, meeting the parents, etc. Further, if sex is 15 minutes of your day and the O is 1 minute of that, what the heck do you do for the other 23 plus hours in a day??? Or is that 23:59 just wasted if you played the best round of golf of your life but didn't get a hole in one, which are basically your odds of winning a NCAA Championship in college hockey?
RIT can be very happy with the journey.....why shouldnt they be. But the journey becomes less and less satisfying with time for those who want to be, but have not been, on top of the mountain. Like I said, sex is good and fun and all that, but kind of unfullfilling without the big O. At least that's my recollection.
Okay, I'll buy that, but how did you get through all the date nights, chick movies, meeting the parents, etc. Further, if sex is 15 minutes of your day and the O is 1 minute of that, what the heck do you do for the other 23 plus hours in a day??? Or is that 23:59 just wasted if you played the best round of golf of your life but didn't get a hole in one, which are basically your odds of winning a NCAA Championship in college hockey?
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Maybe he spends the remaining 23 hours of his day posting on this message board like you do.
Maybe he spends the remaining 23 hours of his day posting on this message board like you do.
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
All the date nights, chick flicks, meeting parents, etc is what builds up to the big O; much like how the regular season, conference playoffs and NCAA playoffs build up to the national championship.Okay, I'll buy that, but how did you get through all the date nights, chick movies, meeting the parents, etc. Further, if sex is 15 minutes of your day and the O is 1 minute of that, what the heck do you do for the other 23 plus hours in a day??? Or is that 23:59 just wasted if you played the best round of golf of your life but didn't get a hole in one, which are basically your odds of winning a NCAA Championship in college hockey?
Got 6 Want More
New member
Re: Is it the journey or the trophy that counts...
Exactly my point! Living for the big O leaves you with a lot of free time that you could spend enjoying the journey!
Exactly my point! Living for the big O leaves you with a lot of free time that you could spend enjoying the journey!