Sports analogies run rampant through our society, often trivializing big moments and minor setbacks. We will say that a speaker "knocked it out of the park" when they receive a standing ovation or say that he or she "fumbled" when a joke is met with uneasy faces. But I am a sports fan, and cliche analogies happen to be a language in which I am fluent.
I watched the last two minutes of the Tennessee vs. UCLA football game, where an errant kick in overtime sealed the fate of the hapless Volunteers from Knoxville. Football is perhaps the most recognized example of sport imitating life. The visual aspect of two opposing teams lining up against each other stirs visions of war and conflict. You can watch as an offensive or defensive coordinator draws up the strategy to exploit the opponent's weakness like a general. Our hearts skip a beat with the Hail Mary pass or impossible clutch kick. Acrobatic catches and nimble running gives a hint of grace to an otherwise brutal pastime. All of this gets boiled down to an easy-to-digest soundbite from the commentator trying to figure out a way to fill time and space during a broadcast.
Politics and football have a few uncanny parallels. Our American system lends itself to two primary candidates and their surrogates facing off with both having the goal of winning a particular elected office. The campaign manager and field operatives call the plays from on high, while the candidate tries to lead his or her surrogates to stay "on message" and move ahead in the poll numbers. The Hail Mary pass can be that game-changing move that shocks the pundits. The fumble is when scandal (or even a micro-scandal) breaks into the prime time news cycle. Touchdowns come from hammering home an issue that connects with the majority of voters. Pandering is like kicking field goals all day to keep the game just out of reach. The best team on the field is not always the one that wins. Sometimes the ball gets tipped and run back to keep the scoreboard close. There is seldom any doubt which team a fan supports.
I personally prefer the football analogy for the political process rather than a horse race. For one, a horse race is over in a matter of minutes (far too short when talking about something that can last for years) and strategy takes a backseat to the physical ability of the horse. It does not really matter when a jockey lets up on the reins and gives a stallion its head if it already blew by the others right out of the gate.
Welcome to the fall campaign season. Pick up your "We're #1" foam finger at the door.