-------
Tanking in Sports -- and in Life; WHY?
By JV Howard
Tanking - In a broad sense - is a term used to describe when sports teams lose games on purpose to secure some sort of future competitive advantage. The idea is totally anathema to the competitiveness associated with being the last man or last team standing - all things being equal.
Two teams take to the arena equal in the number, guided by rules of the sports, buoyed by the fans that buy tickets, tailgate, throw beer, hurl expletives, and wave towls, all in the quest to win but no less to feel the competitive edge from the team of their choice.
From the sound of gun, the tip off, toss up, kickoff, coin flip, first pitch, or bell the chase for victory is part the thrill of competition. Before each season there is a plethora of pre-coaching, preseason competition, OTA’s, winter training and film work necessary for success, yet, it is a hard sell to accept how athletes - elite - compartmentalize when to compete and when not.
