Preparation for disappointment does not work, it does not lessen the disappointment.
Being optimistic or pessimistic gets tangled up with being right or wrong. Those true fans predicting a dismal season will not be any happier than the optimists.
The problem with being a pessimist is if they're right, they're still not happy. I used to like to tell people I was either right or pleasantly surprised but that dodges the reward of having belief and faith in something that comes to fruition. And even if I am wrong, at least I was positive for a time and positive is healthier than negative.
I guess I was in the Insurance too long as our business was to prepare for worse case scenarios which could be defined as a negative approach . We always sold it as a sound financial preparation for life’s realities.
No doubt a positive attitude is healthy . It’s needed in your everyday pursuit of happiness. But one has to prepare for rainy days and the bumps in the road. Part of having a positive attitude is preparing for the negatives life deals you.
It’s a big reason why our owner wearing both hats with owner and GM had been a conflict of interest. As owner it’s his place to be an eternal optimist hyping and promoting his product but as a GM he has to prepare for worse case scenarios.
I’ve always hoped for the best and root the team on each game but part of analyzing, critiquing and handicapping is anticipating potential setbacks.
Fans wanting to be right over winning is a problem but it shouldn’t totally negate their opinions. We’ve even agreed that we get some satisfaction seeing our owners frustrations while the team suffers. It’s a mixed bag of feelings for sure.
I know in recent years of my career I was heavily involved with investment in the market. A huge part is instincts based on knowledge . If you sense a downturn and it comes to fruition you do deserve bragging rights for such insight much as those with upturn insights. It actually goes both ways.
Most with this instinct can anticipate both much like a gambler can anticipate a winning or losing streak. I think this positive and negative outlook can be very translatable to sports. Just not all fans have to be held directly accountable for their incorrect outlook or instincts as they would with money on the line.
But I think there is still some accountability. I can’t help it CC . I’m an accountant and I’ll always believe there is accountability. And if a fan wants to believe every year is the year that’s their prerogative but we shouldn’t hold any weight in their thoughts .
I’m all about trends and recent history. If a team is trending up then I’d be looking for greater results. If a team is treading water or a streak of disappointing results I’d be hesitant in predicting an upturn while remaining hopeful it could turn.
I’m not sure how realism is all too often grouped with negativism. I think the eternal optimist just wants to dismiss anything that’s not overly positive as negative. Fortunately most sports fans aren’t financially invested and they can cheer their team on with blinders on much like they would their child’s team.
Which brings me to my final point. There’s nothing in life we are more optimistic about than our children and their future. We set their goals high and make every effort to meet . But there are disappointments and or setbacks and at some point we do adjust our expectations while always remaining hopeful extending every opportunity.
