COMMENTARY: Spoiled fans deserve to see Smarty lose
11:42 PM 6/04/04
Andy Baggot Wisconsin State Journal

Part of me wants Smarty Jones to win the Belmont Stakes today, but when it comes right down to it, I would rather he not. <

If the modern-day version of the legendary Seabiscuit prevails - Smarty Jones is a 2-5 favorite to win his ninth race in as many career starts - it would mean we would have our first horse racing Triple Crown winner in 26 years. <

It is one of those uncommon sporting accomplishments that demands to be celebrated, regardless if you don't know a furlong from a furnace filter. Smarty Jones won the first two legs - the Kentucky Derby and Preakness - in dominating fashion and seems poised to become the 12th Triple Crown winner in history. <

So why pull for Smarty Jones to lose? <

I'm not rooting against the horse as much as I have an issue with a generation of incredibly spoiled sports fans. <

We have witnessed so many moments of startling athletic brilliance in the last quarter century it now seems like we take high-end achievements for granted. We actually expect them to keep coming. <

For some reason, they do. But when they come along, we fail to pay our proper respects. We linger for an appreciative nanosecond, then start drumming our fingers on the desk waiting for the next one to materialize or we find fault with the one at hand. <

That is the case with Smarty Jones. Some say his success is the product of weak competition. Others offer backhanded compliments like, "He's pretty good, but he's no Secretariat." Still others have opined Smarty Jones might be the worst Triple Crown winner of all-time. Yeah, like these people saw Crown winners Sir Barton (1919), Galant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935) or War Admiral (1937) run. <

Seeing Smarty Jones win today would be monumental simply because Triple Crown winners have been extremely rare. <

Since Affirmed last did it in 1978, we have seen a Miracle on Ice, Eric Heiden win five Olympic gold medals, Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France five straight times and three of the five most accomplished athletes ever in their primes (Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan and Joe Montana). <

We have watched Muhammad Ali win the heavyweight boxing title for the third and final time, Andy North claim two U.S. Open golf titles and Nolan Ryan throw three of his major league-record seven no-hitters. <

We have seen Tiger Woods win four straight golf majors, Ron Dayne become the all-time leading rusher in NCAA football history and Mark McGwire hit 70 home runs in one season. <

We have seen Barry Bonds hit 73. <

We have watched Roger Clemens win six Cy Young Awards, Michael Johnson win an unprecedented Olympic double in the 200 and 400 meters, the University of Wisconsin men's basketball team play in the NCAA Final Four and Kerry Wood strike out 20. <

We have seen the Badgers win three Rose Bowls, three NCAA men's hockey titles and Brett Favre set an ironman streak that will never be broken. <

That is just the Cliff's Notes version. <

I really want to see Smarty Jones win today, but only if it means we take the time to really appreciate the moment.