Choking under strain

I've been thinking about that French soccer guy- Zizou, or something like that. Like in The Life Aquatic. Anyhow, I was thinking about how oddly similar it was to Michael Schumacher's desparate move during the final seconds of qualifying at the Monaco GP in May. Funny how those kinds of life-changing events happen so quickly, and so inexplicably.

Both guys are at the top of their form, but I believe that Zizou has retired, and had left retirement for the World Cup, while Michael is probably seeing his final season or two. So I guess there is a similarity there. Both are known to be fiercely competitive. I just see it as the kind of character exhibited by the type. Ruthless in the quest of a win. Like Lance. Will do basically anything, even choke before losing. And in Michael's case, the move was totally unnecessary. And patently obvious. Disclaimer- I am a HUGE Michael fan. Really love watching him race. It's sheer brilliance. Even at Monaco, after his idiocy, he came from the back of the grid to finish in 5th place. He dominated. And would've had one hell of a good chance to win if he had started from 2nd or 3rd. That's the saddest part. He's been slammed by his fellow drivers, past and present, pilloried by the press and had his name blackened. And rather than have the grace to admit his error (and it was a real humdinger of a fuckup), he has avoided the issue. Cowardice, if you ask me. I would much rather he have the class to have apologized at the outset, explained it as a heat of the moment stupid, stupid thing, and gone on from there. Much more forgivable than the rather arrogant assumption that we'll all forget about it in the morning. Why? Well, because he's Michael Schumacher. There's something about the kind of guy who puts on a veneer of kindness (I'm a really great guy- see- I have kids and a lovely wife, and I love them!) and can totally fuck over his fellows in the name of winning. (I suspect that Lance can likewise be a total asshole when he wants to win) I also suspect that there is a long road ahead for Michael after he retires. Finding meaning when your entire life has been consumed by something that you can't do anymore has to be a serious challenge.

It kind of reminds me of the current administration. Too blasted arrogant to admit that they fucked up, badly. Ever. They (especially the President) have that attitude that they always know what's right, and will never couch the idea that the truth might be otherwise. Even when it's shown by events and documentation. We went to war under twisted information, and they refuse to admit. It would go a long way towards redemption if they did. But they are among the rightous, and the rightous are never wrong, right?

Ah, arrogance. Ah, competitiveness. I just hope to God that Michael never runs for office. Because I'll seriously doubt his ethical fitness. Anyone who parks a car on a corner to disrupt the qualifying runs of others is more than capable of doing pretty much anything to win. And I've read that the Bushes are very competitive people, as well.

(Who the hell knows about the French guy- I am totally ignorant of his character- but suspect that anger management is an issue.)