Big Win or  Big Picture?

Of course, it can be both.

It’s easy to get caught up in the heat of a rivalry, but today I’m reflecting on the bigger lessons we can learn from sports—hear me out!

I have a unique perspective, as a lifelong fan of the Chicago Bears (strangely, still, somehow) AND as a proud alum of BOTH The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan (stranger still).

The Bears are looking for a new head coach, and many fans will demand only that the new coach promises to defeat our hated archrivals, the Green Bay Packers. Nothing else matters.

Speaking on behalf of the Packers, regarding the Bears, to quote fictional advertising legend Don Draper: “I don’t think about you at all.”

In Columbus Ohio, it’s much the same—nothing else matters to Buckeye fans but defeating That Team Up North. But this season, Michigan didn’t just beat Ohio State—they humiliated them.

Here’s the twist: last night, Ohio State took down the #1-ranked team in college football, Oregon. Oh, they looked good. The Buckeyes could very well win the national championship in a couple of weeks.

And just like I will gladly take two savage defeats at the hands of the Packers if it means the Bears win the Super Bowl, I hope that Ohio State fans can let one loss, even to their most despised opponents, fade away if the reward is a national title.

Can you bear a defeat (see what I did there?) if it means a greater reward, a little bit later?

Keep your eye on the prize. The real prize.

What do you think?

See you tomorrow!

#BigPictureThinking #FootballLifeLessons #RivalryPerspective #KeepYourEyeOnThePrize #SportsWisdom #ChicagoBears #OhioState #Michigan