the Jim Dandy phenomenon

[46zilzal]

I've noticed a PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT which alters the perception of the various participants in athletic competition. IT, of course, is not the only reason behind these observed outcomes, but it is a study of participants trying NOT TO LOSE, versus trying to win. It occurs in all sports but I first noticed it in horse racing.

August 1930, the Travers at Saratoga, a rain soaked track has mass scratches as EVERYONE KNOWS it is going to be a match race within a race. Only 2 other colts showed up as then Governor FDR watched from the stands. Whichone, the previous years 2 y/o champion, was coming back from an injury and recently ran 2nd to the Triple Crown winner that year, and opponent this day, Gallant Fox. The Fox was sent off at 1/2, Whichone at 7/5. With the track rated heavy, these two went after one another right from the get go in laboring fractions of 1:13, 1:42 and 2:08 at the wire. Whichone was nearest to the rail and the Fox was in the two path. As the race unfolded these two began to show real signs of fatigue as Whichone forced Gallant Fox wide at the top of the lane. BOTH were passed late in the contest by little Jim Dandy the ONLY colt in the race with a "mud mark." He prevailed at 100/1 and forever put his name in the history books.

Move ahead to 1982 and a similar things evolved. For the first time the three differing winners of the Triple Crown races that year were all entered, but Frank Wright made the following comments on CBS Sports. Aloma's Ruler ( odds of 5.6/1 and Preakness winner) "this one had a recent throat infection was treated with antibiotics and just barely made it to this race." Of Gato Del Sol (K Derby winner that year: "this one has completely gone off form." and went off 4.2/1). OF Conquistador Cielo he said "I see this one has come out in 4 bandages, that is NOT a Woody Stephens trademark.

SAME THING happened, even Gato uncharacteristically tried to contend the early going before dropping back to last, but it became the "match race with a race" in rather fast fractions of 46 2/5, 1:10 3/5, 1:35 4/5....to the wire in 2:02 3/5. As the duo reached the far turn and into the lane. a gray streak started to come into view: (as Frank Wright explained it pre-race "THIS one is a tremendous stretch runner.") RUNAWAY GROOM...As the two backed up late, that one passed them both on the outside a odds of 12.9/1.TWO riders so worried about NO losing, that they forget the rest of the entire field.

I have seen this in many races where I will shout "THIS is going to be Jim Dandy all over again," but was really surprised at seeing the exact same psychological ploy happen in other sports

1984 LA Olympics Men's all around gymnastics competition, Peter Vidmar of the US and Li Ning of China were the odds on favorited to take the Gold. Many of the announces on the TV broadcaster cautioned that these competitors were so close in accumulated points that neither one dared to take too great a chance and you could tell both were holding back or actually removing some moves from their routines. Enter the scene of journeyman and "old" Olympian from Japan, Koji Gushikin. He was neck and neck with these top two but THEY paid him no mind and he let it all hang out (IT WAS GOING TO BE HIS LAST OLYMPICS ANYHOW). They both held out, he just did his thing and PASSED them both to win the Gold...So happy for this guy as he broke down and cried when it was announced.

Now it you think it did not happened yet again, look no further than the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games. Michelle Kwan of the US and Irinia Slutskaya of Russia were the heavy favorites to win the women's figure skating medal. Again, during their routines, the TV commentators (especially Scott Hamilton a previous year's Gold Medal winner) noted that both were holding back fearful to make a mistake...ENTER the scene of 16 year old Sarah Hughes, too inexperienced to get all hung up in those others fears, just did he thing (and skated STUPID as Scott Hamilton said she should, i.e. not to overthink her routine)... She again, pulled the JUM DANDY and passed them both for the Gold medal.

Look for it: things like this happen again and again in racing and other sports as well.