My beef with close games, especially in team sports (1 Viewer)

[johnnycakes]

As one works his way to the top of his profession - regardless of what that profession may be - it is the little things that make the big differences between those at the top of their profession and everyone else.

So it is with sports, including football. When two teams are as evenly matched at New England & Seattle, it should be no surprise the game comes down to one or two plays. Unless, of course, thae Patriots are cheating, in which case you get the kind of result we had in the AFC championship game.

 

[Jayrod]

I know what you are talking about. My junior year we lost the Class 4 district 11 semifinals to our rival school due to a bizarre serious of lucky plays. Sure missed shots played a part, but a Freshman banking in a 3 and a normal bounce pass going between my legs were part of the series of events that had to happen for that sophomore kid to chuck in a game winner at the buzzer.

I cried after that game and still get nauseous thinking about it.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

I know what you are talking about. My junior year we lost the Class 4 district 11 semifinals to our rival school due to a bizarre serious of lucky plays. Sure missed shots played a part, but a Freshman banking in a 3 and a normal bounce pass going between my legs were part of the series of events that had to happen for that sophomore kid to chuck in a game winner at the buzzer.

I cried after that game and still get nauseous thinking about it.

I think we all need to accept how much "chance" has an effect on our lives (both good and bad) and go on from there.

 

[TenTimes]

I know what you are talking about. My junior year we lost the Class 4 district 11 semifinals to our rival school due to a bizarre serious of lucky plays. Sure missed shots played a part, but a Freshman banking in a 3 and a normal bounce pass going between my legs were part of the series of events that had to happen for that sophomore kid to chuck in a game winner at the buzzer.

I cried after that game and still get nauseous thinking about it.

I think we all need to accept how much "chance" has an effect on our lives (both good and bad) and go on from there.

I might do this.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Maybe it's a thrill for them to play Kentucky?

For a lot of these schools actually making the big dance is a huge, sensational accomplishment.

yes, i'm sure they revel in getting eviscerated by 50 points and realizing that as good as they think they might be that someone is infinitely better.. that's a real thrill. I know it's a real joy when I play someone in chess that is way better than me and I get checkmated in 20 moves and never had a ####### chance.

Builds character, right... and they can tell their son someday that a future pro pwned them.. but that they scored that one bucket on them that one time, no?

being the absolute best is not the only source of enjoyment in life.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I'm sure that you won't, but you honestly might want to read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336. "Cognitive therapy's premise is that your thinking (messages that you are giving yourself all day long) directly inflences your moods and how you feel." It sounds corny, like some Oprah Law of Attraction bull####, but it's actually not. It's about taking some of your thoughts, which are intensively negative and really not grounded in reality, and re-working them into more rational thoughts.

Also, did you enjoy Dr. Giggles?

 

[Dentist]

I'm sure that you won't, but you honestly might want to read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336. "Cognitive therapy's premise is that your thinking (messages that you are giving yourself all day long) directly inflences your moods and how you feel." It sounds corny, like some Oprah Law of Attraction bull####, but it's actually not. It's about taking some of your thoughts, which are intensively negative and really not grounded in reality, and re-working them into more rational thoughts.

Also, did you enjoy Dr. Giggles?

I may honestly buy that, I have a pretty serious problem with negativity. There are a lot of bad beats in life

 

[Rohn Jambo]

Dentists,

What about life, where a lot depends on luck and not everything is fair? You still choose to play the game.

 

[dickey moe]

If you continuously view sports from the perspective of a gambler you're going to wind up being eternally disappointed.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Let me begin with the fact that I don't care about either Seattle nor Boston and really didn't care who won the football game, I simply was watching because I do generally enjoy football.

But here's the thing, as I watched that game, as I have with many close games over the year, moreso with team sports... I've found myself unable to ultimately enjoy many of the results.

The average impartial fan probably really enjoyed the drama from last night and thought it was a fun and exciting game.

As I looked at that game, I felt frustrated.

Regardless of how that game turned out last night I was going to be unhappy with the result. In close games it seems like either some referee call, or some bizarrely lucky play seems to be the ultimate decider of the contest a good percentage of the time. Not always.. some games are close and clean. But so many close games have bizarre circumstances that don't have much to do with the actual game in deciding the outcome.

Now, I get that something has to ultimately decide a close game... that the teams were close on paper and in actuality.. and that something has to break that up.

But with last night either a bizarrely lucky catch was going to lead to a victory for Seattle, or what actually happened, one of the worst play calls and bad beats in NFL history ended up deciding the game... I mean really any result on that play other than an INT and seattle probably still wins that game. Why Russell didn't just throw that away is beyond me. I feel bad for Seattle fan... but not really because they never should've been down there anyway because that catch was pure luck.

I suppose that result wasn't has bad as some of the results that are decided by referees... but it was pretty horrible nonetheless.

In many ways I think it might have been a bit of payback for the equally bizarre ending to the seattle vs. Green Bay game which was also completely unsatisfying because of the luck factors that led to that result..

But anyway... I'm sure most people think this line of thinking is strange... but I prefer a clean result like a 14-40 point win where there are no excuses, no ref calls, no lucky plays that ultimately decide the outcome... and I prefer that to the manufactured drama and oftentimes "bad beat-ish" style results that many close games have to offer.

Poke her.

 

[Dentist]

Dentists,

What about life, where a lot depends on luck and not everything is fair? You still choose to play the game.

Thanks for this question, another great post.

I think this is one of the reasons I have a hyper sensitivity to the luck factor in sports and poker.

I already deal with an endless amount of bad beats in my daily life: "Really, someone's car just happened to not start specifically on the day/time of their dental appointment when they only come twice a year... 1/180 odds? FML" Sick today? you're sick like 10 days a year and one of them happened to be on your dental appointment day? 1/30 odds.

So I don't want to deal with any extra bad beats if at all possible.

 

[Capella]

Man you have such a strange view of life.

 

[Zow]

Hint: those people are lying to you. You chose a profession where your clientele isn't going to like coming to see you. People will cancel at a high rate. Cost of doing business. It's not a "bad beat".

 

[Peyton Marino]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

 

[Capella]

Maybe you're just a negative dentist and people hate seeing you. Cheer up a little?

You only get one spin of the wheel, enjoy life and stop dwelling on the bull#### you can't control.

 

[Peyton Marino]

I once went to the bathroom at work and all the urinals and stalls were occupied. I had been drinking a lot of coffee that morning and had to go slightly more than usual. That's gotta be at least a 19/2 shot right there! Nobody runs worse than me at trying to use the bathroom. So sick.

 

[simey]

Hint: those people are lying to you. You chose a profession where your clientele isn't going to like coming to see you. People will cancel at a high rate. Cost of doing business. It's not a "bad beat".

I don't think all of the people who cancel are lying to him. As someone already mentioned, dentist see a high volume of people yearly, and some are going to have unexpected things come up. That is life.

 

[Zow]

Hint: those people are lying to you. You chose a profession where your clientele isn't going to like coming to see you. People will cancel at a high rate. Cost of doing business. It's not a "bad beat".

I don't think all of the people who cancel are lying to him. As someone already mentioned, dentist see a high volume of people yearly, and some are going to have unexpected things come up. That is life.

Fair enough and I'd agree that not all are lying. I'm just trying to get him to see that patients canceling on him isn't some bad beat the world has dealt him.

 

[comfortably numb]

Dentists,

What about life, where a lot depends on luck and not everything is fair? You still choose to play the game.

Thanks for this question, another great post.

I think this is one of the reasons I have a hyper sensitivity to the luck factor in sports and poker.

I already deal with an endless amount of bad beats in my daily life: "Really, someone's car just happened to not start specifically on the day/time of their dental appointment when they only come twice a year... 1/180 odds? FML" Sick today? you're sick like 10 days a year and one of them happened to be on your dental appointment day? 1/30 odds.

So I don't want to deal with any extra bad beats if at all possible.

lol @ endless bad beats in life.

Hope this is shtick

You are alive today.

That alone is a good start to the day.

The rest is gravy.

 

[Dentist]

Maybe you're just a negative dentist and people hate seeing you. Cheer up a little?

You only get one spin of the wheel, enjoy life and stop dwelling on the bull#### you can't control.

i'm actually relatively successful because I fake a really awesome attitude exceptionally well most of the time.

But you're right.. your post is spot on. I do dwell on the negative too often.

 

[NewlyRetired]

One of my favorite "kissing sister" moments, some thing every US fan will always remember

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5dajuutxIA

 

[johnnycakes]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

 

[Zow]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I thought most dentists do this already. I know mine does.

 

[Dentist]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I know offices that do that. I get patients from them routinely because what happens is that when the statistical model fails which would happen fairly regularly you get a good patient who ends up waiting 20+ min for their appointment.

That's not gonna fly.. people don't like to wait.

I have a damn near no waiting culture set up, that attracts a higher quality consumer who generally is more willing to put bigger dollars into their teeth.... in turn I generally charge more than the average office because I'm probably not in their insurance network.

However, no office is without their basspoles who cancel, and I haven't found an effective way to over-book without introducing the concept of waiting.

 

[Capella]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I know offices that do that. I get patients from them routinely because what happens is that when the statistical model fails which would happen fairly regularly you get a good patient who ends up waiting 20+ min for their appointment.

That's not gonna fly.. people don't like to wait.

I have a damn near no waiting culture set up, that attracts a higher quality consumer who generally is more willing to put bigger dollars into their teeth.... in turn I generally charge more than the average office because I'm probably not in their insurance network.

However, no office is without their basspoles who cancel, and I haven't found an effective way to over-book without introducing the concept of waiting.

Do you make enough money?

If so just let it go and be proud you have happy customers.

 

[Dentist]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I know offices that do that. I get patients from them routinely because what happens is that when the statistical model fails which would happen fairly regularly you get a good patient who ends up waiting 20+ min for their appointment.

That's not gonna fly.. people don't like to wait.

I have a damn near no waiting culture set up, that attracts a higher quality consumer who generally is more willing to put bigger dollars into their teeth.... in turn I generally charge more than the average office because I'm probably not in their insurance network.

However, no office is without their basspoles who cancel, and I haven't found an effective way to over-book without introducing the concept of waiting.

Do you make enough money?

If so just let it go and be proud you have happy customers.

Yes, I make a satisfactory amount for my situation.

I am very proud that I have a high satisfaction rate.

I have a tremendous amount of disdain for the lack of respect people have though for their appointments and I really hate paying an employee when they generate no revenue.

 

[Zow]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I know offices that do that. I get patients from them routinely because what happens is that when the statistical model fails which would happen fairly regularly you get a good patient who ends up waiting 20+ min for their appointment.

That's not gonna fly.. people don't like to wait.

I have a damn near no waiting culture set up, that attracts a higher quality consumer who generally is more willing to put bigger dollars into their teeth.... in turn I generally charge more than the average office because I'm probably not in their insurance network.

However, no office is without their basspoles who cancel, and I haven't found an effective way to over-book without introducing the concept of waiting.

Do you make enough money?

If so just let it go and be proud you have happy customers.

Yes, I make a satisfactory amount for my situation.

I am very proud that I have a high satisfaction rate.

I have a tremendous amount of disdain for the lack of respect people have though for their appointments and I really hate paying an employee when they generate no revenue.

1. Obviously, people should have the courtesy to cancel in a timely fashion. I can't defend that. But what I can remind you of is that you're a dentist. Going to the dentist, even an incredible up-beat and patient one, blows. Your mouth is poked and prodded, it's at best annoying and at worst rather painful, and at the end you made to feel guilty for not flossing enough. It sucks, dude. As such, it's inevitable that people will be more likely to blow it enough. Cost of doing business. I can sympathize a bit because in my business I'm engaging in financial agreements with people who have a history of fraud, theft, deception, etc. So, of course, I'm not going to get paid what I invoice on every case even if I perform near miracles. It sucks, but it's the cost of doing the type of business I've chosen. It's not a bad beat.

2. This is all done at no fault of your employees. I don't understand why you hate to pay them when they're there at work and ready to work for you.

 

[Christo]

One of my favorite "kissing sister" moments, some thing every US fan will always remember

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5dajuutxIA

 

[comfortably numb]

I like going to the dentist

 

[johnnycakes]

1/30 odds isn't that crazy. At those odds you'd expect to have quite a few people call off every year. You take a lot of patients, #### happens.

I think Dentist should book appointments the way airlines book flights... using statistical modeling, they predict how many no-shows they will have and over-book accordingly. Pass the bad beats around, dentist!

I know offices that do that. I get patients from them routinely because what happens is that when the statistical model fails which would happen fairly regularly you get a good patient who ends up waiting 20+ min for their appointment.

That's not gonna fly.. people don't like to wait.

I have a damn near no waiting culture set up, that attracts a higher quality consumer who generally is more willing to put bigger dollars into their teeth.... in turn I generally charge more than the average office because I'm probably not in their insurance network.

However, no office is without their basspoles who cancel, and I haven't found an effective way to over-book without introducing the concept of waiting.

I was being facetious about the overbooking. Is that the dental equivalent of Lenscrafters that books appointments like that?

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Going to my dentist on Friday. She's a perky little thing. No clue if she's into dumpings on chests.

 

[sublimeone]

I appreciate the vacillations in a football game. The intangible aspects of battle are what make them interesting. Strategy, execution and adaption to conditions are part of the game. Football would not be nearly as interesting without the variables.

Dentist, do you deal with any obsessive compulsive tendencies?

 

[Dentist]

Going to my dentist on Friday. She's a perky little thing. No clue if she's into dumpings on chests.

just ask, report back

 

[SeveredHorseHeads]

Man you have such a strange view of life.

It's like an alien visiting earth and trying to understand what drives humans to do the things they do. Fascinating.

 

[Lutherman2112]

If you continuously view sports from the perspective of a gambler you're going to wind up being eternally disappointed.

I am so glad that I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. I dug myself in a hole with sports gambling, and got out with some help from family and friends (and Chris Webber).

I enjoy sports so much more without the gambling.

 

[Dentist]

If you continuously view sports from the perspective of a gambler you're going to wind up being eternally disappointed.

I am so glad that I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. I dug myself in a hole with sports gambling, and got out with some help from family and friends (and Chris Webber).

I enjoy sports so much more without the gambling.

I don't wager on sports.. unless you call being in a $50 pick 'em league wagering, and if you consider FFL wagering (not daily leagues or weekly leagues.. real season long leagues with friends for nominal amounts of money).

This isn't about wagering.

It's about bad beats and low percentage things happening that ultimately result in what decides the outcome of a contest rather than the actual gameplay or skill level of the players involved.

 

[ShaqAttaq]

that's part of the fun.

 

[Ignoramus]

If you continuously view sports from the perspective of a gambler you're going to wind up being eternally disappointed.

I am so glad that I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. I dug myself in a hole with sports gambling, and got out with some help from family and friends (and Chris Webber).

I enjoy sports so much more without the gambling.

I don't wager on sports.. unless you call being in a $50 pick 'em league wagering, and if you consider FFL wagering (not daily leagues or weekly leagues.. real season long leagues with friends for nominal amounts of money).

This isn't about wagering.

It's about bad beats and low percentage things happening that ultimately result in what decides the outcome of a contest rather than the actual gameplay or skill level of the players involved.

Just because you're not gambling does not mean you're not viewing it from the perspective of a gambler.Low percentage things happen. That's part of the beauty of sports (and life, really).

 

[Dentist]

that's part of the fun.

you're "fun" is my misery

If you continuously view sports from the perspective of a gambler you're going to wind up being eternally disappointed.

I am so glad that I learned this lesson over 20 years ago. I dug myself in a hole with sports gambling, and got out with some help from family and friends (and Chris Webber).

I enjoy sports so much more without the gambling.

I don't wager on sports.. unless you call being in a $50 pick 'em league wagering, and if you consider FFL wagering (not daily leagues or weekly leagues.. real season long leagues with friends for nominal amounts of money).

This isn't about wagering.

It's about bad beats and low percentage things happening that ultimately result in what decides the outcome of a contest rather than the actual gameplay or skill level of the players involved.

Just because you're not gambling does not mean you're not viewing it from the perspective of a gambler.Low percentage things happen. That's part of the beauty of sports (and life, really).

This is true, I just don't find these things to be the beauty of sport. And there aren't too many low percentage things I want happening to me in life either than I can think of other than winning the powerball.

 

[Ignoramus]

This is true, I just don't find these things to be the beauty of sport. And there aren't too many low percentage things I want happening to me in life either than I can think of other than winning the powerball.

You won the genetic lottery by being born when and where you were.You've got a great career. This wasn't 100% chance, obviously, but a lot of little things had to go just right for you to get there.

You're happily married. That's not exactly a high-percentage occurrence.

There's probably a hundred other low-percentage things in your life that you could easily think of to be grateful for... maybe not "powerball" or "wedding" big, but if you stop being such an Eeyore, they're there if you look.

 

[Gr00vus]

It's about bad beats and low percentage things happening that ultimately result in what decides the outcome of a contest rather than the actual gameplay or skill level of the players involved.

The more evenly matched opponents are, the higher the likelihood that outcomes in games between them will be greatly impacted by "lucky" events. That's part of the entertainment value of watching humans play sports. If you're looking to sports to give you a tic tac toe experience, you can only be disappointed.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

This is true, I just don't find these things to be the beauty of sport. And there aren't too many low percentage things I want happening to me in life either than I can think of other than winning the powerball.

You won the genetic lottery by being born when and where you were.You've got a great career. This wasn't 100% chance, obviously, but a lot of little things had to go just right for you to get there.

You're happily married. That's not exactly a high-percentage occurrence.

There's probably a hundred other low-percentage things in your life that you could easily think of to be grateful for... maybe not "powerball" or "wedding" big, but if you stop being such an Eeyore, they're there if you look.

Exactly. The mindset of only recognizing the negative low-percentage things is what is screwing you up. Today I went to Panera and ordered only a medium coffee. The girl said "just take it". I did a double take (fearing I would have to do a Mcdonald's dance), but she said it again. I said ok and took the coffee. Minor, low-percentage thing, but a positive.

Not to mention the fact that perhaps when seemingly bad low-percentage things happen, you can use them to your advantage. when someone cancels, you are not just paying an employee, you are gaining free time, where you can do something useful or enjoyable. Think about the opportunity cost that you have reduced.

 

[simey]

This is true, I just don't find these things to be the beauty of sport. And there aren't too many low percentage things I want happening to me in life either than I can think of other than winning the powerball.

You won the genetic lottery by being born when and where you were.You've got a great career. This wasn't 100% chance, obviously, but a lot of little things had to go just right for you to get there.

You're happily married. That's not exactly a high-percentage occurrence.

There's probably a hundred other low-percentage things in your life that you could easily think of to be grateful for... maybe not "powerball" or "wedding" big, but if you stop being such an Eeyore, they're there if you look.

He had some good fortune with his career in that he works for his dad. I don't know how his dad's practice is set up, but a friend of mine worked for his dad in dermatology, and he had patients right off the bat, and when his dad retired, he inherited all of the patients that stayed with the practice. It has been sweet for him. I wonder if the dad of Dentist knows that his son hates paying his employees that don't generate revenue. I can't imagine that he would be proud that his child has such a disrespect for his employees. Maybe Dentist will have an awakening like Ebenezer Scrooge, or maybe his money obsessed self will remain eternally unhappy.

 

[Dentist]

He had some good fortune with his career in that he works for his dad. I don't know how his dad's practice is set up, but a friend of mine worked for his dad in dermatology, and he had patients right off the bat, and when his dad retired, he inherited all of the patients that stayed with the practice. It has been sweet for him. I wonder if the dad of Dentist knows that his son hates paying his employees that don't generate revenue. I can't imagine that he would be proud that his child has such a disrespect for his employees. Maybe Dentist will have an awakening like Ebenezer Scrooge, or maybe his money obsessed self will remain eternally unhappy.

My dad still works and hates it when employees don't generate revenue a lot more than I hate it. If anything I'm the more relaxed guy.

My dad isn't a gambler and thus can't participate in a discussion of odds/probabilities/bad or good beats. But most certainly complains loudly about lousy scenarios and "jeez.. mary sue's car wouldn't start again? Seems improbable."

As for my level of happiness.. who knows... I've been in a long slow process of eliminating the things that upset me out of my life and trying to bring in things that create more joy. That's meant eliminating most sports where luck is a large participator in the outcome. I'm getting there.