Sports fans love to see boldness in the athletes and teams they root for. In golf, the enormous popularity of Arnold Palmer in the past and Phil Mickelson today is rooted in their boldness, their desire to "go for it" when the game is on the line and the stakes are the highest.
Arnold Palmer quoted in recent Wall Street Journal article:
"The style you are referring to, I know what you mean and I know what it meant to me, but I'm not sure how to explain it without coming across as cocky. If I said just one thing about it, I'd say I played that way because I was afraid of losing. I was playing to win."
Fans admire the play to win approach rather than the "play not to lose" approach that seems to be favored by many coaches.
You cannot get a football crowd or a team much more excited than when a coach cuts against the grain and has his team "go fir it" on fourth down at a key point in a game. The momentum and confidence a team gains by the effort and confidence the coach displays in his team can change the outcome of a game in one play.
In golf, when a players doesn't "lay up" or play it safe and takes a shot at winning when winning presents itself is very exciting for the crowd. In baseball, a go for broke steal of home or a well-timed suicide squeeze play can shift momentum and generate excitement in the fans.
It is interesting to see Palmer say his approach was based on a fear of losing rather than an inherent boldness in his mind. Seems almost counter-intuitive.
Live daringly, boldly, fearlessly. Taste the relish to be found in competition - in having put forth the best within you. - Henry J. Kaiser
BOLDNESS - After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. - Acts 4:31
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