Is Domination a curse or a blessing?
Domination in any sphere of sports is a sign of greatness. It speaks volumes about the sportspersons or team’s grit, skill, and ability to handle pressure in different situations. Every decade has seen domination across sports by different teams. If the 1990s were about Chicago Bulls domination in basketball, the early 2000s were all about Australian domination in cricket. China has historically been a powerhouse in badminton and table tennis. The 21st century world is a fast-paced advancing world, and it is all but natural that long time dominations can be challenged as skillsets rise or new teams rise up to the challenge. This may sound theoretical, but it can be seen in practice.
The 21st century has seen teams like Manchester City becoming powerhouses in football (not to mention the treble they won in 2022/2023 season). On the other hand, LA Lakers have become a household name for basketball. If that was not enough the historically Chinese dominated table tennis and badminton are now being dominated by India and even Spain. Among all these dominations, there is one domination which is hard to pass by and that is the rise and rise of Max Verstappen in Formula 1 racing. While he was destined for greatness, his unprecedented 17 wins this season has raised the question whether domination in sports a curse or it is something to enjoy.
Why is domination a curse?
Sports domination means that the fans cannot expect any upsets and would know of the result leading to a fall in inquisitiveness. That is exactly the case in Formula 1 this season with everyone sure on who will occupy the top spot on the podium while the fight is very much on for the other positions. This can lead to angst among the fans as they may be deprived of competition. Now, sports are revenue driven and teams could often take decisions to hamper the domination but a lot of broadcasters and some public consider sports domination is a curse because it hampers competition and ends up differentiating one team/person completely from the rest of the field.
Why is domination a blessing?
Sports domination brings out the best in a person but also allows opponent members to up their game to push the dominant force. Yes, Max Verstappen is at the top of his powers but that doesn’t mean that no one can challenge his domination. He has a brilliant car, and his confidence is at peak high. That does not mean that it will remain as is. The other drivers in the field are also improving their cars and driving skills to outsmart Max. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are two drivers who are already trying to challenge the domination. Till last year they were not known to be fast drivers (in fact Oscar Piastri was not even in formula 1). The sheer dominance of Max has resulted in upgrade performance of other F1 drivers, and it is a matter of time that his dominance will be challenged, and competition will become even more interesting.
The debate for sports domination will be never ending but as ardent fans of sports we should enjoy these phases of domination as it inculcates a life learning on how to be a champion and sustain that position. On top of that, it only helps push the boundaries for excellence and levels up sports. Every few years this phase of domination will come, and it should be treated as a blessing to bring forth more competition, opportunities, and a means of advancement in sports.
