When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in ‘96, I’m at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, "You remember the [comments] you made in 1994 about, ‘I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you? Well, you’re about to get your chance."
The quote above comes from Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction speech, in which we learned that what drove him to greatness was petty grudges based on past slights.
Likewise, I have held a petty grudge since Memorial Day weekend 2008 that has given me motivation. I quote my own blog:
...on Sunday night our ward FHE activity was a Jell-O competition, I am
holding my entry in that same picture on the left - Gelatina Colorida.
It's a dessert I had frequently in Brazil, consisting of various colors
of Jell-O cubed and then encased in a mixture of sweetened condensed
milk, heavy cream, and unflavored gelatin... There were only seven
entries in the contest and there were five grand prizes and mine failed
to win any of them. Even a plate of lemon Jell-O with peas and string
beans in it, which even its creator declared inedible, won a prize. The
only other participant who didn't win a prize was Brady Emmett, and his
dish didn't even have Jell-O in it (it was tapioca pudding). They did
invent an honorary award for my dish ("Most Least American"), but My
Gelatina Colorida losing out on the real awards was the biggest snub
since The Color Purple went 0 for 11 at the 1986 Oscars.Flash forward to today. At work we had a purple dessert competition (it is Yahoo!, after all), and I once again made Gelatina Colorida, only this time I only used purple Jell-O to fit the theme. I even painstakingly carved out the Yahoo! logo into the purple Jell-O with a knife. I was afraid that once again the American palettes of the judges might not understand my dish.
However, near the end of the day the contest results popped up in my inbox:
Like before, an additional award was created for me, but unlike the condescending "Most Least American" (which I admit is pretty clever), instead they gave this more flattering qualification: "Given the array of yummy creations this year, we were actually able to add another prize to honor a 4th place winner as well!" My prize? A cake pan with a cover and handle, and a set of quiche pans. Score!
So kids, always hold grudges ;)
3 comments:
There was a Hill Street Ward chili cook-off that same year, and I was excited because I have a really great chicken chili recipe. I make it all the time and it consistently gets rave reviews. I made it, talked it up, and got complements from chili-eaters at the cook-off, so when it didn't win a prize I was a little disappointed. I would have gotten over it, except that later, when I casually asked the appointed chili judge about my chili, and she said, "Oh, I didn't get a chance to try it. Jonathan told me it was just a soup, not chili, and you weren't entering it into the contest."
I still hold a grudge about that one. Jonathan was out to win himself, and had been giving me grief about how my chicken chili was not "real" chili. Telling the judge that my chili was a soup and thus removing me from the competition seemed very underhanded. Incidentally, the contest winner was another chicken chili (and I do admit that it might have been a better chicken chili than my own).
I haven't had another chance to enter a chili cook-off and redeem myself, but your blog entry is inspiring. I will hold on to my grudge and hold out for vindication.
I don't know how I missed this post before, but I love it. It's hilarious. "Most least American"!?!? Hahahah! I don't remember that! I must have missed that FHE. Your "Yahoo" carving skills are very impressive. :) Congrats on the win!
And Amy's story is so infuriating - I can't believe she's still friends with Jonathan after that! I would have been SO mad!
This didn't show up on my dashboard so I am very glad I ran across it - can't wait to try the quiche.
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