Luka’s Corner

In sports, winning can be witnessed and measured in many different ways. And, because there are so many different kinds of athletes within their respective sports, it is easy to compare them in order to figure out which are true winners and which are not. But, here’s my question. Who exactly is a winner and how can that be determined? Luckily, there are so many different kinds of winners in sports that it is easy to determine.

A winner can be measured by their stats when it really matters. In other words, if an athlete’s statistics or production noticeably increase in the postseason, championship match, knockout round, or whenever else the result is on the line, then that athlete is a winner. There are plenty of examples of this. In soccer, Samuel Eto’o elevates his play by scoring more goals in the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League or when the domestic league is nearing its end. The Cameroonian star seems to always come through when he is both least expected to come through and when he is needed to come through. Just remember that with all of the talk about Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi, and the other big names on FC Barcelona entering the club’s Champions League final against Manchester United last May, it was Eto’o who came through at the start by opening the scoring for his club.

On the other hand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal production notoriously decreases in the knockout round of the Champions League. He has infamously experienced scoring droughts on the biggest stage of international club soccer. It is not surprising that his Inter teams always failed to go far in the Champions League. If the leader of your team fails to produce, then you cannot win. So, it is not surprising then that the Inter club this season, with Eto’o, is on the verge of reaching the final for the first time in recent memory (ironically, at the expense of Ibrahimovic’s Barcelona club).

However, it isn’t only an increase in statistical production that makes a winner. You can see a winner in action if they make the timely pass, steal the ball to get a critical defensive stop, hit the big three-pointer, or save the wrist shot that could have won the game. The athletes who do these things don’t always have to be the biggest names or most heralded stars. They can be the 7th-man on a basketball team or the substitute on a soccer team. No matter who they are, though, they have to make these big-time plays on a consistent basis to be considered winners. A winner does not have one magical season and then fade the rest of his career. Athletes who win once and then say that they are winners, but somehow never win again, are not winners. Consistency is key.

For example, Robert Horry, a role player who hit big-time shots for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs throughout his career, is a winner. Joakim Noah, who has a knack for grabbing critical rebounds, and displayed that ability both in college and in the NBA, is a winner. Ben Roethlisberger, who has made a name for himself with his game-winning drives for the Steelers in the postseason, is a winner. So is Gennaro Gattuso, who uses his emotion and intensity to lead both his club and international team to wins. Such athletes, even if they aren’t the biggest stars in their sport and don’t draw much media attention, find a way to get it done in winning time. They seem to always do it when it really counts.

I also want to throw out there that winners get it done in all kinds of situations. This means that they win in different leagues and by playing different roles for their team (to fill their team’s needs). Manu Ginobili is a great example of this. The Argentinian is a three-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs. He also led Argentina en route to winning the Olympics in 2004, in addition to already having won the Euroleague with Kinder Bologna in 2001 (with whom he was also named the Euroleague MVP for 2000-01). Ginobili has proven that he can win in any environment and on any team. He will be the playmaker on the team or the scorer or even the lockdown defender, as long as it will result in victory. He does what he has to do, no matter where and how he has to do it.

It is similar to high school basketball players who end up in the NBA and continue to win in the pros after winning state championships at the high school level (like LeBron James and Derrick Rose). It is not a coincidence then that the athlete who has proven that they can win keep on doing it, even if it is against better competition. That is also why we even hear about these athletes in the first place. Winners, be it in high school or in the professional ranks, grab the spotlight.  Everyone wants a proven winner. This is why winning is like a fortune. Everyone wants to make a billion dollars, but very few people actually earn it in their lifetimes. Similarly, everyone wants to win, but very few find a way to do so.

Sometimes, sports can just be too difficult to explain. Why is it that strength can be so deceiving, and so unimportant? Why is it that the strongest athletes sometimes act like the weakest? Is faking, flopping, and falling so integral in sports? These questions are both amusing and necessary for a fan to ask themselves. Whether it is basketball or soccer, or any other popular sport for that matter, “flopping”, or exaggerating contact in any way, is a huge part of the game.

When people think about the NBA and its toughest players, who do they think of? They think of Ron Artest, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett, to name a few. But, even these three use the flop to their advantage. If he is guarding Carmelo Anthony or another star who uses his body to create contact, “Ron Ron” flails his arms and falls backwards to draw offensive fouls on the man he is guarding. He flops to both get the call and frustrate his opponent. Kobe Bryant does the same. When attacking the hoop or pump-faking his defender, the “Black Mamba” flails his arms more than anyone. The artist who approaches the art of the flop differently is Garnett. The “Big Ticket”, widely regarded as one of the best defensive players of his time, talks trash to his opponent and waits until they react. If his opponent responds by either talking to or pushing Garnett, the intimidating and intense Garnett steps backwards, puts his arms up, and flails them to act like he is actually innocent.

In the end, the flop is used by even the toughest players in basketball to achieve or receive something. In their minds, the end justifies the means. Artest falls and flails to force the referee to call an offensive foul and to frustrate the opponent, Bryant exaggerates contact to get to the free-throw line, and Garnett steps backward to get the opponent thrown out of the game for starting the fight. The funniest aspect of all this is that these three are considered to be the toughest, grittiest, and most intimidating players that professional basketball has to offer. Yet, they flail and flop when the game is on the line. They ignore their strength and physicality and resort to the flop.

The same can be said about soccer, which is notorious for the flopping associated with it. As with any sport, flopping is so difficult to explain in soccer. To illustrate is unexplainable side, I put forth two words: Gennaro Gattuso. Considered one of the world’s most hard-nosed, physical, and relentless footballers, “Rino” relies on an unexpected skill to get him over the top. That skill is using his bulky, powerful frame to exaggerate contact in midfield. In other words, he flops. Although Gattuso tackles with reckless abandon and uses his powerful frame to push around his opponents while defending, he resorts to flopping when he has the ball. When opposing defenders do the same work defending the ball as him, Gattuso falls to the ground, even with minimal contact on the play. In his mind, if he can get the foul call, flopping was worth it. In this way, “Rino” is no different from “Ron Ron”, the “Black Mamba”, or the “Big Ticket”. The reasoning behind the flop is the same.

So, do not be deceived by the athletes you watch on TV. While they may seem built-up and physically superior, they are not all that. The time that they spend in the weight room working out is negated when they make the decision to flail their arms, fall on the ground, and fake the impact of any possible contact. Keep that in mind when you watch a basketball game, soccer match, or any other sporting event. No matter how strong they get, athletes still try to act as weak as they can. Their goal is to become stronger, but to act weaker.

In light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid CF and La Liga, it is a perfect time to compare Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the two best players in the world. Now that they are both playing in Spain, I have decided to compare the two using seven categories:

Scoring (adv. Ronaldo)

The former Manchester United forward has proven that he can score from long distance and from short range, while the majority of Messi’s goals come from inside the box. And, while Messi has scored 54 goals already for Barcelona, Ronaldo has scored 84 goals for Manchester United.

Passing (adv. Messi)

While CR7 is undeniably a gifted passer, especially from the wing, Leo’s, and Barcelona’s, game revolves around short passing around the box to set himself and his teammates up for goals. The majority of Messi’s 54 total goals came from quick give-and-go actions with Xavi, Iniesta, and Samuel Eto’o.

Dribbling (adv. Messi)

This was one of the closer categories because both players have proven themselves as tricksters with the ball, but the edge goes to Messi because of his ability to keep the ball so close to his feet. In terms of pure tricks, the Portuguese star has the edge over the Argentinean, but the Argentinean has the edge in terms of dribbling with a purpose.

Movement (adv. Ronaldo)

Even though Messi is a speedster himself, he cannot compare to Ronaldo in terms of making runs, receiving through balls on the run, and then finishing the break. Because of Ronaldo’s movement on the wing and up front, the Red Devils possessed the deadliest counter-attack in the EPL over the past two seasons.

Free Kicks (adv. Ronaldo)

CR7 runs away with this category because he actually took the free kicks for the Red Devils, while it is Xavi or Iniesta who handles that responsibility for the Catalan giants. If you need further proof of Ronaldo’s remarkable ability in set pieces, here it is.

Versatility (adv. Ronaldo)

Messi’s Achilles heel of sorts is playing against a physical team, like Chelsea FC in this year’s Champions League, so he excels in one type of game: a fast-paced, finesse game. Ronaldo has no such problem because he can rely on his physical strength to play in a physical game. The fact that he was successful in the especially physical EPL is proof of this. And, Ronaldo can also rely on his speed and quickness in a fast-paced, finesse game.

Accomplishments (even)

Both players have already won a Champions League title (and both have scored in the championship game), so there is no winner there. Also, both Ronaldo and Messi have won their respective leagues multiple times and brought home several cup trophies as well. The advantage goes to neither player.

Overall, Cristiano Ronaldo is a better soccer player than Lionel Messi. However, the debate is sure to come up more often now that CR7 will be going head-to-head with “Leo” in Spain. So, if you are still unconvinced by either side who the best player in the world is, stay tuned for the upcoming season.