In sports,
I am what many refer to as the ultimate homer.
A Native of Tennessee, I support everything Volunteer. Therefore, like many University of Tennessee
fans, any discussion about Peyton Manning raises my awareness. I constantly tire of comparisons between he
and Tom Brady, and I am at the ready whenever they put Brady as the best because he
has won more titles. Despite my obvious
bias, I objectively reject discussions about “the best.” In football, I marvel at the productivity of
a plethora of quarterbacks now playing the game. The evolution of the position, along with the
preparation of young players at quarterback, has served as an example of the
athletic possibilities of such gifted individuals.
Over the
past few years I have reflected a great deal on Voltaire’s proposition to keep
perfection from becoming “the enemy of the good.” I recently watched a documentary where a
historian described the ancient view of the world as a dome. Thousands of years later we are now seeing
the possibility that there may be more than one “Universe.” In other words, there are no limits. I recently heard one Eduardo Sa’enz De
Cabezo’n at the 2015 IB World Conference describe a student’s effort to prove
the paper fold theory wrong (one can only fold any piece of paper 7
times). The student cited was successful
by taking a mile long sheet of paper towel and folding it 12 times. Mr. Cabezo’n went on to describe the exponential
possibilities of this exercise, through math, stating that a very thin sheet of
paper equal to the distance from the Earth to the Sun theoretically could be
folded 54 times based on the student’s results.
As I understand it, and for the sake of disclosure I am no professional
mathematician, the definitive nature of mathematics can get us to a specific
answer or into serious trouble, depending on your perspective.
Out of
ignorance, I began to think of Pi. There
is no end to Pi. At least that is what I
have been told. Does this then mean
there are no limits? I listen to
physicists speak in terms of the finite age of the Earth or Universe. I
listen to sports journalists, that title can be a stretch, speak in terms of
the best. Are such speculative
discussions practical, or necessary. The
best, the beginning, or the end demonstrates a human desire to define
perfection in such a way that limits possibility. It is clear then that acknowledging
perfection provides a cognitive understanding of alpha and omega. Voltaire speculated that this is not a good
thing.
There is no
such thing as the best quarterback, pitcher, golfer, artist, musician, ad nauseum. The universe, which in title implies an end,
is unlimited. If Einstein is correct
that everything is energy, individual existence is a continuum. Oh yeah, watch Peyton Manning throw a back
shoulder fade to the post and you will immediately know that he is the best
quarterback EVER!!! Even Voltaire would have made the catch.
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