Why Losers Always Lose

Posted by icemonkey9 on Jan 18, 2010 in General | 1 comment

A Post Inspired by the 2009-2010 San Diego Chargers

Nate Kaeding (#10) of the Chargers

If you read my football prediction post, you'll immediately recognize why I will never succeed in the world of sports betting.  That fact aside, I was inspired by my favorite football team, the San Diego Chargers, to write about why losers always lose.

As a background if you are not familiar with American NFL Football, the San Diego Chargers have been in the NFL for 44 years.  In  the entire history of their team in the NFL, they have made the championship game just once and in that game lost in one of the most lopsided games in the history of the Super Bowl (1995).  During the last six years the Chargers have consistently had one of the best regular season teams and most talented rosters in the league.  The problem they have had, each and every year, is winning in the playoffs. One year (2006) they had the best record in the 32 team league and lost their first playoff game. This year they had the second best record in the NFL, played an overachieving Jets team and played as if they had never seen a football in their collective lives.  Their loss today in the playoff game might rank as their most disappointing loss yet as they had come in winning 11 straight in a 16 game season.

Given their history of failure in the playoffs, you would think they would learn from such losses and mistakes.

Teams that lose in the playoffs are ones that fail to remember what got them there.  In the case of the Chargers, they were one of the least penalized teams  all year, but in the first quarter they racked up 6 debilitating penalties. They also rarely turned the ball over, but they threw two interceptions and nearly lost two fumbles.

Teams that lose in the playoffs are ones that let the pressure get to them mentally.  With the Chargers, our friend pictured above was voted an all star (in the NFL they call it the Pro Bowl) for being the best kicker.  He had made 69 straight within 40 yards ... and he missed 2 within 40 yards and 1 outside of that range for an 0/3 night. The Chargers lost by 3 points ... if he had made his 2 within 40 they would have won 20-17. For the record, he's missed key field goals in similar playoff situations before.

Teams that lose in the playoffs are ones that lost their composure.  In this game the Chargers had three or four (I can't remember how many) personal foul penalties (the maximum 15 yard variety) which were due to a complete lack of composure and maturity (from a mature team in terms of age).

Finally, teams that lose in the playoffs are ones that play down to the level of their competition.  The Chargers went 13-3 and had won 11 straight and the Jets had luckboxed their way into the playoffs with a 9-7 record.  There was no doubt which team was more talented, but instead of forcing the Jets to play catch up with their high powered offense, the Chargers played down and trudged along all game long.

SO - What's the connection with poker?

Much of what constantly troubles the Chargers trouble poker players.  Don't make costly mistakes that you know goes against your training.  Don't let the pressure of the situation get to you and always think clearly.  Never lose your composure due to tilt and coolers.  Finally, don't play down to your competition's level.  If you are playing with a bunch of fish, great ... don't let that change your solid and proven game.  Keep attacking, keep playing the right way and don't start being fancy and altering your strategy against the fish just because they've won a few hands.

There's a reason why losers will always lose - they never learn and fix their mistakes.