I was talking a while back with my boss and he was trying to make a distinction between jealousy and envy. I think he may have been trying to say that envy is wanting something someone else has while jealousy is merely wishing another person didn't have something (even if you don't particularly want it yourself).
I talked about how I think one of the worst things people do is deciding that someone they dislike for whatever reason doesn't deserve something and then trying to justify the stance when the reason isn't really related to whether or not they're deserving of the thing you don't want them to have but is based on petty personal feelings. I'm a proponent of meritocracy. For me, the world is better when the most deserving are able to attain the things they deserve, whether they're jerks or not and whether they rub their success in your face or not. I feel that a truly strong person is one who doesn't let the success of his rivals or people he dislikes or he feels look down on him consume him. He doesn't have to like them or their success, but rather than conniving and plotting to try to ruin someone else's promotion or victory or lying to himself and others and saying that it's undeserved, he pushes himself to work harder and seeks to improves his capabilities so he can surpass his rival or enemy.
When it comes to hockey and other sports, I think you don't need a good reason to dislike a player or team. It is a game that's meant for entertainment. You can like or dislike whomever you want. But it can nonetheless be obnoxious and off-putting when fans hate a player or team to such an extent that they are incapable of being honest and objective about said player or team and always have to say something negative.
When it comes to Brad Marchand, I can't stand him. I have made that clear numerous times. I have neither forgotten nor forgiven some of his antics over the years. Sure, he hasn't done anything seriously harmful to me, but again, it's hockey and he is certainly not one of my "boys."
However, I do have to admit that he has been outstanding in this year's playoffs, especially in the Stanley Cup Final. He's looking like one of the best trade deadline acquisitions ever and is a leading Conn Smythe candidate. I have no idea how a 37 year old is pulling off some of the shit he's doing in this year's Final. He's looked like a prime friggen Jagr at times. He's been so good that I feel I have to give him acknowledgement and credit, and it means more coming from a true anti-fan.
That said, I would still love to see him fail once again to win a Stanley Cup. It would make me smile seeing his dream go up in smoke again and seeing him crying like a little bitch. But if he manages to win the Cup and/or Conn Smythe, I have to tip my hat.
I talked about how I think one of the worst things people do is deciding that someone they dislike for whatever reason doesn't deserve something and then trying to justify the stance when the reason isn't really related to whether or not they're deserving of the thing you don't want them to have but is based on petty personal feelings. I'm a proponent of meritocracy. For me, the world is better when the most deserving are able to attain the things they deserve, whether they're jerks or not and whether they rub their success in your face or not. I feel that a truly strong person is one who doesn't let the success of his rivals or people he dislikes or he feels look down on him consume him. He doesn't have to like them or their success, but rather than conniving and plotting to try to ruin someone else's promotion or victory or lying to himself and others and saying that it's undeserved, he pushes himself to work harder and seeks to improves his capabilities so he can surpass his rival or enemy.
When it comes to hockey and other sports, I think you don't need a good reason to dislike a player or team. It is a game that's meant for entertainment. You can like or dislike whomever you want. But it can nonetheless be obnoxious and off-putting when fans hate a player or team to such an extent that they are incapable of being honest and objective about said player or team and always have to say something negative.
When it comes to Brad Marchand, I can't stand him. I have made that clear numerous times. I have neither forgotten nor forgiven some of his antics over the years. Sure, he hasn't done anything seriously harmful to me, but again, it's hockey and he is certainly not one of my "boys."
However, I do have to admit that he has been outstanding in this year's playoffs, especially in the Stanley Cup Final. He's looking like one of the best trade deadline acquisitions ever and is a leading Conn Smythe candidate. I have no idea how a 37 year old is pulling off some of the shit he's doing in this year's Final. He's looked like a prime friggen Jagr at times. He's been so good that I feel I have to give him acknowledgement and credit, and it means more coming from a true anti-fan.
That said, I would still love to see him fail once again to win a Stanley Cup. It would make me smile seeing his dream go up in smoke again and seeing him crying like a little bitch. But if he manages to win the Cup and/or Conn Smythe, I have to tip my hat.
