softshot said:
I could listen to Seether's music. Nice lyrics and tune.
I like to gamble, play in tournaments and practice competitively. I find each has their own attraction. Many gamblers will tell you that you have to gamble in order to learn how to handle the pressure of playing at your best. They will say that the pressure felt under gambling is tougher than other forms of pressure. The gamblers will say that gambling toughens you as a competitor. When your hard earned cash is on the line, you will be double-tough because you will pay attention. They are partially right. Gambling is unique in the pressure you feel. The exhilaration felt while gambling is different than the exhilaration felt when competing in tournaments. Some will say it is a higher exhilaration but I think it is just different and maybe it is a mindful thing rather than a physical thing. Something like hunting must have seemed to the real hunters of ancient times where they pitted their skills against animals for the right to survive.
Competing in tournaments can yield another specialized type of exhilaration and again I think it is a mindful thing rather than a physical thing. The tournament arena is the place where the best exhilaration can be felt in my opinion. It is where you are surrounded by MANY other athletes and competitors with winning on their mind. It is the numbers that make the difference with the way you perceive the competition in tournament play. It is a superior way to compete in my opinion.
Gambling usually is usually done between two competitive individuals and I think it is easier to successfully do than it is for tournament competition again by the sheer lack of numbers. Also, some people possess the strength or weakness of (depends on how you look at it) being able to make the acquisition of the money paramount in their mind and so when they gamble, the possibility of losing money does not become a deterrent in their mind.
If two people of equal talent and ability gamble, one of them a tournament player and one of them a gambler, the gambler will most often win.
And in tournament competition the same but reverse is true. If both are of equal ability and one of the players is a gambler and the other is a tournament competitor, the tournament competitor will most often win.
The practicing competitor is just that and nothing more. If he does not subject himself to the pressures of competing with others in tournament play or in gambling he would fall apart almost every time in either of the types of competition. If he is of the same talent and ability, in a practice session, the practicing competitor will almost always win.
In order to be the best in any test of skill, you must expose yourself to the individual pressures found within each test of skill.
I think tournament competition is far greater than gambling competition or practicing competition but it is only because of the numbers.
The practicing competition is good but it does not compare to the two other forms of competition. The practicing competitor who only plays for fun and never enters tournaments and never gambles is cheating himself or herself of the individual rewards in the other forms of competition which are unique unto themselves.
The "reward" for accomplishment in each test of skill is special to that form of competition and they are all good.
The greatest "feat" is to face many other competitors in tournament play under various circumstances and with limited barrels; to overcome. The numbers of competitors, the differences between each player and the limitation of barrels makes tournament competition the greatest challenge of all.
JoeyA
), and listened to a couple of NFL players being interviewed in Pheonix (they were there, but not on the Pats or Giants). Both of the players were asked about their respective teams, and and what it would mean to them (the players) to make it to the Superbowl. Both were pretty convincing in saying that they could have a great career, make lotsa money, etc. etc. etc., but they would be ultimately disappointed (or their career would seem incomplete) if they never won a Superbowl. Sure, there are some spoiled, pampered, self-serving athletes out there that are all about the $$$MONEY$$$, but I'd guess a majority of athletes wanna win the BIG ONE (and would probably trade in alot of that $ and fame to have done it). 