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Topic: Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

Topic: Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

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The Situation
General User

Member Since: 7/12/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 957

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Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

Posted: 11/27/2010 5:08:06 PM

This may be too philosophical for this board, but the past two days I've seen the word deserve used in conjunction with football and basketball having both negative and positive connotations. I really hate that word. It's a human fallacy.

No one deserves anything, for better or worse. Is BLove's pride/ambition worth more MAC championships than the pride of a commuter student at Eastern Michigan? Even if it was quantifiable, there is no hierarchy to deliver wins to the most "deserving" fans. That's one of the problems with America, every citizen seems to have an idea that they "deserve" what they want. I don't know why.

Using adjectives that describe yesterday's feelings like frustrated, defeated, and let down do not take away from what OUr student athletes and staff have accomplished. However when people start using that mythical word deserve, instantaneously every thing that OUr athletic program, and the individuals that are a part of it, accomplished can be taken away.

We beat the MAC East Champ on the road ("One for the thumb"). We won 8 games. We lost 4 games. We will be in a bowl game. We did not make it to the MAC championship. We had one of the easiest schedules in college football. These are all facts and accomplishments about and for this football team. They elicit different feelings in each fan.

I'm fine with feelings and opinions, this is definitely the place for all that, but don't dilute the truth. Would we have made a bowl game 40 years ago, no. Will we make a bowl game this year, yes. Talk about the differences then and now but don't say they shouldn't be playing in the Humanitarian Bowl because of yesterday. That comes off that we'd rather have UL Monroe play there than us. (Finances aside). That hurts the young men who suit up for the Green and White each week in a way that no fan should be a part of.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,234

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RE: Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

Posted: 11/27/2010 5:51:10 PM

Agreed Situation. I actually pulled out Webster's about an hour ago because like you, I was a bit perplexed and quite honestly tired of the constant use of the word deserve. Just because you choose to join an organization/play a sport which human nature would tell one that you would try your best to succeed, doesn't bring with it some added advantage. You get what comes to you. Without getting political it's kind of like the entitlement mentality that has infected so many. If we go, we go but it's not because of some arbitrary feeling because we did this or that. And in the whole scheme of things, finances need to be part of that decision (now that is opinion).

Thanks for a thoughtful post Situation.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,781

Status: Offline

RE: Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

Posted: 11/27/2010 6:05:33 PM

American Heritage Dictionary:

de*serve

v.tr. To be worthy of; merit.

v.intr. To be worthy or deserving.

So, dear folks, it really is a good English word with Latin roots.

In this context I would say we merit serous consideration for a bowl. We are worthy! (We would have been more worthy having beaten KSU, but that's 'nother story.)

Last Edited: 11/27/2010 6:09:51 PM by OhioCatFan

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

Pataskala
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Member Since: 7/8/2010
Location: At least six feet away from anybody else
Post Count: 9,365

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RE: Stop Using the Word Deserve it Doesn't Exist

Posted: 11/27/2010 6:31:23 PM

Bravo! Whether some like it or not, the Cats are BOWL-ELIGIBLE, just like about 70 other teams. Whether or not they go to a bowl -- or what bowl they go to -- will not depend on whether they "deserve" it; it will depend on the number of other available BOWL-ELIGIBLE teams and whether the Cats are considered to be better draws than the other available teams.

We will get by.
We will get by.
We will get by.
We will survive.

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