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Perception
Simply defined, it the way one observes and analyzes a given situation. Is the glass half full or is the glass half empty?? If you hit a baseball down the left field line, that baseball could land "just foul" or "just missed being fair", depending on your perspective.
It is all in how you look at it.
Perception provides a fascinating outlook in today's sports world. Let's review the local football results of this past week. The University of Missouri lost by seven points to Nebraska; a Conference Rival whom they have not defeated since the Carter Administration. Yet, local fans and most Missouri Alumni are pleased with the effort and proud of the team's performance. Heck, even the Associated Press agreed; moving the Tigers up one notch in their weekly college football poll from #19 to #18.
Meanwhile less than twenty-four hours later, the St. Louis Rams lost convincingly to the San Francisco 49ers; a team whom they have not defeated since the Bush Administration. The Rams in general, and their Quarterback Tony Banks in particular, were lustly booed by the sold out crowd (which included 6500 empty seats) at the Trans World Dome. Coach Dick Vermeil and his squad are once again the lightning rods of sports talk shows .
Yet, the bottom line in each case is exactly the same: one loss in the standings.
Once again, it is all in how you look at things.
It has been a renaissance over the past eighteen months in Columbia with the Tiger football program. Last season, Larry Smith's squad earned their first bowl appearance in thirteen years with a 7-4 win/loss record. Among their four defeats was the infamous loss to the Cornhuskers last November in Columbia. That game, though, the Tigers gained respect, credibility and earned national recognition.
Fast forward to 1998. Larry's Cats needed to jump off to a 5-1 for a chance to a repeat post season trip. The Tigers accomplished that goal: stumbling only to Number 1 Ohio State in the Buckeyes' back yard.
Game 7 played in Lincoln, Nebraska. The 'Huskers' Memorial Stadium becomes Nebraska's third largest city on Game Day Saturdays. Mizzou had not defeated the Cornhuskers since James Wilder and Pete Woods led the Tiger charge in 1978.
Unfortunately, this Saturday Missouri/Nebraska border war would be no different than the previous nineteen. The 'Huskers would again have more points at the end of the day.
Turnovers, missed opportunities, penalties, and dropped passes sealed Missouri's fate. Making this defeat more frustrating, the Tigers could have (and perhaps should have) topped Nebraska this date. Yet, it still goes down as a loss in the standings.
This Saturday travels to Lubbock for a meeting with Texas Tech. In two weeks, Mizzou will return to the Lone Star State; this time to College Station for a date with Texas A & M. Coach Rick's Colorado Buffaloes come to Columbia on November 7 and the Tigers finish their regular season at home against nationally ranked Kansas State.
The Tigers must win two of their remaining games (or for you perception fans-not lose more than two remaining games) to earn a repeat bowl appearance. Seven wins (or four losses) will probably get you an invitation to a Bowl game. Six wins (or five losses) may or may not get you an invitation. Mizzou, your post season destiny is in your own hands.
So the Tigers are 5-2 at this writing. Turn this record around to 2-5, the current benchmark of the St. Louis Rams.
If asked privately, Coach Vermeil may have to admit that even Brent Musberger looked good in those days following the October 18 shut out loss in Miami.
A terrible automobile accident involving a Rams' Rookie started the week. After that loss to the Dolphins, Quarterback Banks decided to take some R & R in Miami but forgot to or failed to tell his coaches of his whereabouts.
Maybe Banks preferred the moon over Miami to the Indian Summer of St. Louis; but he was dead wrong on not alerting his Head Coach. This inexcusable action was a direct slap in the face to the entire organization. It was the height of insubordination by an employee to his employer and justifiable cause for immediate termination.
At the end of this long week, it would be the annual visit of the San Francisco 49ers to our fair city. You know them, the winners of the last fifteen encounters with our male sheep and the group that coined the phrase "Same old Rams".
Not a rosy situation for a St. Louis Football Team that has won one game a month.
So on a beautiful autumn Sunday afternoon, Gateway City football fans came indoors for this matchup. Even Southern California's own Georgia Frontierre was in the house. More impressively, she actually found her way down to the field and applauded at the correct portions of the game.
The Rams received a lukewarm pre game reception when the Defense was introduced. But it was the Offense that got the ball first.
You know how this story ends: A quarterback threw three interceptions, fumbled once, and was sacked eight times. A non-existent rushing game. The Offense's First Down of the game was earned with roughly two minutes remaining in the first half. A punt returner who starts his return going in the wrong direction, and then doubles as an invisible wide receiver on offense. Finally, the fans who did have the stomach to hang around loudly booed the team, and not because it was the Halloween season. Add to this, many of the Rams players who were injured during this debacle.
Bottom line: it was a very, very, UGLY afternoon for the Home Team and their faithful.
So how would you perceive results of this game? Would you say that the Defense played a tough game or would you say that the Offense played a horrible game??
Regardless, this loss brings the Rams' record to 2-5 and a .305 winning percentage during the Vermeil era. In all likelihood, St. Louis football fans will still be waiting for its first winning season with the Rams as citizens of the community.
Mizzou and the Rams. Two football teams who lost their games this past weekend. Two teams with reciprocal records. Two teams who are perceived differently by the fans.
Perception in Sports.
Bottom line, though: a valiant performance in a losing effort, or being blown out and embarrassed, still equal the same results terms of in the win/loss standings.
Mike Huss is the host of SportsTalk on WGNU AM-920...from 8-9 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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