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It's easy to be a 'good' winner and a 'bad' loser. For something that has seemed so easy and natural for this team (success), the opposite now seems to be true. They are pressing and everything looks mechanical.
I've used this analogy before; I remember bowling leagues where our team could do no wrong. Bad shots didn't leave splits and questionable shots in the pocket always resulted in strikes. Everyone has happy, high fiving, laughing and having a great time. The next game comes up and things start to go wrong. No one is having any fun, people are getting upset because of missed shots and bad breaks. I know that professional football players aren't the same as you and I however we have all watched athletes at the highest levels of competition struggle, choke and fall apart.
Patrick's not 23 anymore and has a very full life. He's also suffered several concusions and joint injuries. He is a very talented athlete and I believe the expectations he has for himself and those around him are higher than what us fans can imagine.
After five seasons of amazing success, I'm disappointed in myself for not allowing this team to actually show signs of fatigue and burnout. It seems that we expect perfection and the players on the other team are highly skilled and proud people, too.
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