Athletes vs Actors

“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.”

“It’s an honor just to be nominated.”

One quote is popular amongst athletes and coaches; the other is often repeated during film award season; but which is more valid? Which one do you live by? Are you a go-getter or do you take things as they come?

I started thinking about this after a NASCAR driver, who shall remain anonymous, was quoted as saying respect of his fellow drivers was more important than a championship trophy. His reasoning being, you cannot take a trophy with you when you die. Just let that maranate for a bit . . .

You finished?

Good.

There is an argument to be made that a competitor who values respect over trophies, receives neither.

When someone makes a list of all-time great NFL quarterbacks, they usually put Joe Montana at number one because of his four Super Bowl victories. And when a list of top QBs witout a ring is formulated, Dan Marino is often top choice. Marino’s name is all over the record books, and he is well respected by peers, fans, and journalists, but don’t you think that he would love to have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy at least once in his career? Some may say that it is better to be number one on the non-winners list, than four or five on the one ring list.

As a side note: Terry Bradshaw is also a four time Super Bowl winning quarterback, yet not a lot of people rate him. Then there is the curious case of Eli Manning who has two rings to brother Peyton’s one.

The big difference between athletic awards and film awards is the latter is subjective. In sports, the one who runs fastest, jumps highest, or gets the better score, wins. And yes, officials are sometimes blind and/or on the take, but that’s another story.

Sometimes I wonder what the Academy was thinking when they hand out the Oscars. I won’t name names, but you can probably think of some examples. Then there are those, such as Alfred Hitchcock, who never won.

For the past twenty years, many have wondered how the Academy could have possibly thought Forrest Gump was the best picture of 1994. For those of you who aren’t film nerds, the other nominees were: Quiz Show, Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Shawshank Redemption, and Pulp Fiction. Yeah, it was a great year for cinema.

So… Which is more important; trophies or respect? As for me? I’m in it for the money.