|
Any time you have a situation where someone wants to be good at something, competitive types will be competitive. Then there are those who are competitive about everything.
It pays to be a winner.
On the other hand, you make a good point about the old pro who has nothing left to prove. I would assert, however, that this is more a case of basking in the glory of their reputation, and would only last until thier skills came into question and/or someone else was thought to be better. Some of these old farts get some protection from this by having done something either first or something that can't be repeated. My experience is that most people who are really good at something have worked hard to get there, and care about being good or perceived as being good. No one wants to be a has-been.
Of course a big fish doesn't make you an expert, it makes you lucky. Consistently catching more big fish than others makes you some sort of an expert - given the same time and opportunity of course. If you had a cottage on XuttyXunk and caught 40 pounders all year, I don't think that necessarily makes you more of an expert than the guy in Delaware who catches 15s.
I read a story once about Michael Jordan flipping over a pool table during a casual game with Scotty Pippen.
|