The Daily Meaning

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Travis Shelton Travis Shelton

It's Why You Play the Game

Coming into today, only one time in 151 opportunities has a #16 seed beat a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Enter Fairleigh Dickinson University. I just witnessed them take down #1 Purdue in stunning fashion.

Coming into today, only one time in 151 opportunities has a #16 seed beat a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Enter Fairleigh Dickinson University. I just witnessed them take down #1 Purdue in stunning fashion. Last season, FDU’s coach and starting backcourt were at the Division 2 level. FDU didn’t actually qualify for the NCAA tournament. Rather, they got in based on a technicality that prohibited their conference champion from being eligible. On the other side of the coin, Purdue finished the season ranked #3 in the country and has regularly been in discussion as a legit title contender. Based on history (1 out of 151), FDU had a 0.7% chance to win the game. Yet, here we are! That’s why you play the game.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't – you're right.” I love that Henry Ford quote. There’s so much truth in it. Just yesterday, I read an article about how Purdue’s coaching staff and players were upset by a “disrespectful” comment recently made by FDU’s coach. "The more I see Purdue, the more I think we can beat them.” Wow, how dare a coach actually believe in his team…..the disrespect!!!! FDU entered the NCAA tournament on a technicality, with a coach and players fresh from Division 2, with history showing they had a 0.7% chance of winning, and shocked the world.

Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t - you’re right. This doesn’t just apply to March Madness. It carries into every area of our life. Nothing worth doing is easy. FDU had two options coming into this game: 1) recognize they had nearly zero chance to win the game, just be happy being there while conceding an inevitable defeat, or 2) believe they have a chance, give it everything they got, and see how the cards fall. I think they choose door #2.

Whatever it is in your life, I hope you choose door #2 as well. It might not go your way. You might not succeed. You might fail. You might come up short of your goal. Or your dreams might just come true. There’s only one way to find out. It’s why you play the game.

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