"Just Win, Baby."
That's not only the slogan of the Oakland Raiders—it's also the philosophy that the majority of 21st century American parents subscribe to.
"Not me," says soccer mom Mary Beth. "After all, winning isn't everything."
Mary Beth's husband Dale is a rising star at a computer software company—his $150,000 salary pays for Mary Beth's BMW sedan and their children's private-school education. When Dale first got his job, he took out a loan and bought a beautiful Victorian home, with a backyard big enough for his kids to frolic and a Labrador to run amok.
Mary Beth is in the PTA, and Dale plays poker every Thursday night with his co-workers—making sure to only drink Diet Pepsi and never gamble away more than a few bucks. The couple belongs to the local country club, where they meet their friends on Saturdays for brunch and a few games of tennis.
Mary Beth drives her seven-year-old boy to soccer practice on Mondays and Wednesdays, and her ten-year-old daughter to the local pool for swim meets on
Tuesdays and Thursdays. She never misses any of her son's tennis matches or her daughter's piano recitals. She appears to be the most supportive soccer mom in town.
On Friday evenings, the family goes out for pizza night. And on Sunday mornings, you can find them in church by 9 a.m., prayer books in hand.
Simply put, Mary Beth and her family are perfectly content in their wonderful little world. Life is beautiful, and so are Mary Beth, Dale, and their bright-eyed children.
And the best part about it? Mary Beth never pressures her kids to be "winners."
"There's simply no need," she remarks. "When you have two perfect little angels like these [rubs children's heads] why would you ever do anything to pressure them?"
"Like they say: if it ain't broke, don't fix it," says Mary Beth with a grin.
Fast-forward ten years: Things are majorly broke.
Dale got laid off when the software company downsized, and hasn't been able to find work ever since. He and Mary Beth were forced to sell their house, and begrudgingly moved into a modest apartment in a shabbier part of town.
Mary Beth traded in her BMW for a used Honda—the tires are worn and the glove box doesn't shut all the way. Meanwhile, her husband has taken up heavy drinking as a hobby, and she herself is regularly turned down at the pharmacy for trying to refill her Valium prescription too soon.
The kids are a wreck. Her son has piercings in twenty places and wears black lipstick—he's been held back two grades in high school. Mary Beth's daughter became anorexic when she went to college and started sleeping around—she was sent home by a concerned administrator to live with Mom and Pop for the rest of the year and pull it together.
It's three years later, and Mary Beth's daughter ain't going back to school.
A bundle of support just a decade previously, Mary Beth's true colors have now been revealed. She is more critical of her children than Simon Cowell is of American Idol contestants. She cu
MLB Players to Tell My Kids About, Vol. 4: Don Mattingly
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7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
DR L.H. Gilman about 1 year ago
Donnie hit homers in 8 consecutive games.
Don "The Hitman" "Donnie Baseball" Mattingly was a 100% winner.
Baseball is a team game.
He will be a great manager.
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Zander Freund about 1 year ago
You're absolutely right and he only tied the Major League record (which was then tied again by Ken Griffey Jr. in the early 90's). I have made the appropriate changes.
He will be a great manager indeed. Thanks for reading.
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Bryan Milward about 1 year ago
Mattingly was my older brother's favorite baseball player growing up. One day he went to Mattingly's restaurant when they were having a contest that gave the winner 2 tickets to Yankee Stadium and to spend some time with Mattingly. Somehow he won it and got to meet Donnie Baseball. So even though I despise the Yankees and everything about them as a Sox fan, Mattingly is one of the few I can respect.
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Ravi Savitala about 1 year ago
Funny, but I hate the Yankees (go A's!), but I respect Mattingly for playing the game the right way. Too many players in sports associate winning with playing well: they will only play well as long as the team is winning. Randy Moss anyone? But Mattingly gave it his all game in, game out. He recognized his team needed his leadership and big-game abilities and he stepped up, regardless of outcome. So what he didn't win any Championships. Maybe he'll get his chance to win one as the Captain of the Yankee ship.
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Anonymous about 1 year ago
Zander,
Although donnie baseball didn't win a world series, his Yankee teams were a combined 1143-1076. Not exactly the poster child for being a loser.
-pennypacker
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John Falcetta about 1 year ago
This is b.s. you rag on me for pointing out how Favre won 1 bowl and lost one he should 've won and talk about how other winning Q.B.s had great teams then bash Mattingly? Do you even know any yankees history?
The fact that George fired managers like he was changing socks, traded for useless players like Steve Trout thinking they were the answer how is that Donnie's fault? I would love to know. That organization was a joke throughout the 80's and early 90's and you should know that.George ran it into the ground this is obsurd to call him a loser so are Dan Fouts or Warren Moon losers as well? Oh you also forgot how the Yankees had the best record in the A.L. in 94 until the strike killed the season. they probably would have won at least a playoff series or more likely the title.When you look at these facts you cannot call Mattingly a loser not at all. Is Frank Thomas a loser? his team won the Series with him on the D.L. What about Nomar? He gets traded then they win the title?Jesus I expect a lot better from a writer of your Quality
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Steve Resnick about 1 year ago
Unlike John, I think this was a pretty good article! I can totally see what you're saying about Mattingly becoming a winner in people's mind's despite the fact that he was a loser on paper. He is, and will always be, my older brother's favorite baseball player of all time. My dad was (and still is) lucky enough to be friends with former Yankee catcher Butch Wynegar, who was a special assistant during the time Mattingly played for the Yanks. My brother wrote a letter to Mattingly describing his love for the game and for the player that Mattingly was and he got a letter back, which is now framed and has been on display in my brother's room for years. Also, I met Donnie Baseball at the Yankees Lunch (a charity event held by George Steinbrenner in Tampa for the Boys and Girls Club) and he could not have been nicer. He is a class act and a hell of a baseball player. I hope he succeeds in everything he does.
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