Defining the David and Goliath concept
View(s):Malcolm Caldwell looks at the story David and Goliath as giving a lesson to succeed. David and Goliath – underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants looks at the age old story in a manner different to what we are used to.
Most of us know the story of David and Goliath. Caldwell however looked for a different angle. Hence underdogs, misfits and the art of battling giants: David and Goliath is a book on what happens when ordinary people confront giants. Sans an art of battle and many misfits around, underdogs fought to determine who should be a giant. This was on Saturday when CR played Kandy on home turf.
David took on Goliath in the way he knew best. That is using the sling to tame the giant who was seen as intimidating. Goliath on the other hand when challenged thought he was going to battle with another heavy – infantryman. Ancient armies had three kinds of warriors: the cavalry, Infantry and the projectile warriors who are similar to artillery. For all purposes the giant Goliath was Infantry and slinger David was artillery. The sling was a deadly weapon in experienced hands. Saul the King of Israel was skeptical when David decided to take on Goliath and wanted to dress him in armor. David depended on what he knew and what he had: speed and maneuverability. He rejected the king who wanted to make him what he was not. The end result was tiny David slaying Goliath.
Caldwell heads chapter: there are advantages of disadvantages and disadvantages of advantages. The proverbs have it that some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing, while some pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth. I thought this was much true of the rugby scenario in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan rugby is in two fronts at present. One is the ongoing club league and the other is the advent to play a World Rugby play off during the Hong Kong Sevens. Take the case of the CR and Kandy match where the host displayed that they are pretending to be rich while they showed nothing in the first half of the game as Kandy took a commanding lead of 24 point to 8. Yet at the end of the day Kandy won by 32 points to 27 only. Did CR in the first passage of play look at Kandy as a Giant and forgot how best they can use the weapons they have on hand than play to the hands of Kandy.
Confusion reigned as to who were the underdogs in the CR-Kandy game - Pic by Anuradha Bandara
Kandy looked different this week with the back division running the ball that put CR on the back foot. CR looked to be lethargic in decision making and not being led to use their strength. They failed to capitalise when Kandy had on one less during the early part of the game. When they opened their brains more than their eyes in the second half they got close to striking distance by the end of the second half. Kandy on the other hand probably though they were comfortable like Goliath with the lead they had and took lightly of the opponents who looked jaded in the first half, In both half’s it looks like the underdogs and misfits had not mastered the art of battle. It is not about battling giants as both teams did not look like giant material nor did they play in giant strides.
Elsewhere Havelock had a fight on their hands in beating Police who had the Park club back pedaling for around 60 minutes. Police have during the last two weeks picked up on their game but have not been able to master the aspect of confronting the giants and unable to mark a win .
Navy too had to breathe hard in their match against Air Force. Navy were comfortable with 29 points to 14 lead when a player was sent to sin bin for back chatting. Air Force scored at this time and reduced the lead to 29 point to 21. With fulltime being blown immediately took off pressure of having to face another attack by Air Force. Players need to understand that arguing with a referee gets you nowhere and your team will suffer the consequences. This is a clear case of an advantage being made a disadvantage mainly because you think you are a giant. The man in the middle with the whistle is and will be. The winner will always be the one who can think to his advantage and to the advantage of the team. Like David be the one to use your skills and win and not lose. The games are becoming close but still devoid of entertaining rugby. The spectators are not what you expect at a CR-Kandy match. The few are vociferous and partisan which takes the game away from entertainment. More in the nature of a blame game. Somebody else is responsible for your misfortunes.
Sri Lanka will be taking on the lower rugby of would be world rugby giants to decide on who will be in the World Series Sevens in 2017. To be giant killers you need to think and work towards it. The powerful is not as powerful as they seem nor the weak as weak. Take a clue form David and Goliath.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB