‘There are partisans in every corner of this multi-cornered fight. You see proof of it on social media just from the language being used in posts and in commentary. How will they take a loss?’
THE game is crucial. It’s do-or-die. One team is behind on points and the coach is desperate.
He decides to substitute his best players for his worst — the benchwarmers. Onlookers wonder why.
Before you know it, the game has been suspended. Two of the substitute players threw elbows and punches at the two best players of the other team, who hit back. A melee ensued. Game officials intervened. Players were thrown out and the game was reset.
In the next game the star players of the other team will be sitting it out nursing their injuries while the substitute players of the first team, the ones who initiated the melee, will be sitting it out due to stiff penalties.
Has this ever happened in a basketball game before? Perhaps, but I personally have no knowledge of one such. But I describe it here as a possible tactic that a desperate coach can take if he wants to win at any cost.
Now, imagine a similar scenario this time in an election. One team is ahead and the clock is ticking. If the other team is a decent team it will throw everything it has until the last buzzer sounds, and then gallantly shake the hands of the winner. But if the other team has no scruples and wants to win at all costs, then it will do all that it can to discredit the process.
This is the reason why I ask my friends from the two main camps — what I have termed the Marcosians and the Leni-nists — if they are democrats first and partisans second, or if they are partisans first. The former are those who will campaign hard until the last hour of the last day (May 7), vote on Election Day, wait for the returns and then accept the verdict as the sovereign will of the people. The latter, on the other hand, will refuse to accept whatever the verdict of the people will be and instead may resort to tactics meant to create a chaotic environment. If their candidate will not win then no one can take the seat.
It can be argued that whoever is ahead would like to see the process come to a proper conclusion while desperation creeps up on the one having to play catch-up. It also matters if the game is a close one with the lead shifting from one team to another — or if it is looking like a blowout.
There are partisans in every corner of this multi-cornered fight. You see proof of it on social media just from the language being used in posts and in commentary. How will they take a loss?
As a team manager in the PBA from 2002-2003 and again from 2007-2012 I’ve witnessed tough losses when the opposing side wins via a last minute, desperation shot — as well as losses by blow-outs or wide margins, “tambak” as the fans would say. Every loss hurt, some more than others. But every time after every loss I’ve tried to make it clear to our team that we will take the loss with dignity, after giving it our all.
Sore losers are bad for the game.
