“Winning Isn’t Everything; It’s The Only Thing” – Red Sanders, UCLA Coach
If you are like most people, and statistically you definitely are like “most people”, you probably see that quote at the top of this page and mistakenly think it should be attributed to Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi. The fact is, it was said prior to that by UCLA football coach Red Sanders, and that proves the point that while Winning is very important, it clearly can’t be everything… because attribution also accounts for at least something.
*This is a failed attempt by ChatGPT to display the above commentary about winning as a Venn diagram describing the relationship between “everything”, “winning” and “attribution” – which also anecdotally proves that artificial intelligence is not capable of “everything” just yet either.
The point of course is that there is more to Winning than just winning. Take That Board Games encourages all players to tape the following list to the back of a hand-mirror that can be kept near the table so that any winner who is failing to behave themselves can endure the anguish of seeing their own face (while being reminded of the following simple axioms):
1 – You are winning now, but that won’t always be true.
2 – As the winner it is always your primary responsibility to continue winning, but your secondary responsibility is making sure the other players want to continue playing. You may also want to consider whether it’s a good goal to try and make it so that others want to continue being friends with you as well?
3 – Anyone can win a game… but can you win while making others happy that you won? That’s the Take That Board Games Challenge.
4 – Yes, again, we get it. You are winning. We are proud of you. Nothing said above in any way should detract from the immense joy you get from crushing your enemies, seeing them driven before you, and hearing the lamentation of their loved ones.
(printable version)
(should fit most mirrors)