Go For The Silver

Here’s a little thought experiment for your Monday morning. Which of these two awards would you rather receive:

A) The Gold medal

B) The Silver medal

If you answered “A” you probably grew up in an environment where your teachers and parents pushed you to “succeed”. “Go for the Gold!” they commanded, “Reach for the stars and always strive to be #1!”

The other day in a checkout line I glanced down at a tabloid. And I saw the headline “Olympic champ’s new girlfriend born a man!” Staring at the cover photo I remembered the guy, because he was never allowed to fade away. Back in 2008 he won a bunch of Olympic gold medals. The press hounded him in part, I suspect, because he was a desperately needed American success story during a time of financial crises, bank bailouts, and the end of the Bush years, which seemed to be an experiment on just how badly a nation could screw up and still survive.

There were photos in print and online of the guy hunched over a bong. The crap media followed his romantic adventures.  His next two medals were the ones they hand out in DUI diversion programs after you maintain a certain period of sobriety.

You never, ever want to end up in the motivational fever-swamp of an alcohol treatment program.

So, six years later and I’m still seeing unflattering garbage about this guy. But ya know who never gets followed and “reported on”? Yup, the Silver Medal winners. Try to name one Silver Medal-winning Olympic athlete. You can’t. Those folks succeeded a bit less, but then went on to lead quiet, normal lives.

Don’t listen to your parents and teachers. Being #2 is a whole lot better.