#1 ·
I was thinking about this the other day when watching some old clips of high school rivalries. There is something uniquely brutal about being at the top of your game, knowing you've put in the work, but having to face someone you actually respect and grab a burger with after the game. It’s one thing to beat a stranger, but it’s another thing entirely to have to shut down a buddy who you know is just as talented as you are.
I feel like we don't talk enough about the mental side of competition. Most people just see the scoreboard, but they don't see the weird tension in the locker room or the awkwardness of the post-game handshake when you know you just had to ruin someone's season. It’s a strange mix of professional intensity and genuine friendship that seems to be getting rarer as everything becomes more commercialized.
Do you think it's actually possible to maintain a real friendship with a direct rival, or does the competitive drive eventually kill the connection?
I feel like we don't talk enough about the mental side of competition. Most people just see the scoreboard, but they don't see the weird tension in the locker room or the awkwardness of the post-game handshake when you know you just had to ruin someone's season. It’s a strange mix of professional intensity and genuine friendship that seems to be getting rarer as everything becomes more commercialized.
Do you think it's actually possible to maintain a real friendship with a direct rival, or does the competitive drive eventually kill the connection?