The underdog story has prevailed in our minds and in our hearts ever since that measly fellow David surmounted unimaginable odds to triumph against the powerful Goliath or since Noah saved the twosomes of innocent animals from the mighty flood. Today, the tendency to root for the less-favored party lives on.
The underdog theme is taught to children at a young age. All kids are familiar with the "Tortoise and the Hare" fable, in which that steady, determined turtle defeats the cocky, genetically-blessed rabbit in a footrace. And the story of Cinderella in which Disney so perfectly humanizes the underdog story through that pitiful servant who somehow wins the prince and catapults to royalty despite actions taken by bratty, aristocratic stepmother and stepsisters to undermine her.
Once we get used to rooting for the underdog from these prolific children's tales, we tend to do so for the remainder of our lives. It is common practice for those who know nothing about a sport to cheer for a team just because of its underdog status. My friends even berated me for rooting for the Colts this year in the Super Bowl against the lower-rated Saints - a fitting name, considering the miracle they pulled off during the course of four quarters. Clearly, as we progress through life, we see the underdog tale manifest itself in several arenas - most noticeably popular culture, movies and sports.
In pop culture, we love when underdogs come out on top. Think back to just a few years ago, when Britney Spears led a refined life of shaving her head, smashing paparazzi SUVs with umbrellas and gallivanting around panty-less. That is one class act. Still, shockingly, the public seemed to support her, rooting for an epic comeback. Her "Circus" album hit No. 1 in sales and generated several chart-toppers. Personally, I doubt this is from her musical ability. Additionally, there was one season that Taylor Hicks won "American Idol," though typical pop icons are not expected to be nerdy middle-aged-looking dudes with gray hair. And of most recent note, Susan Boyle of "Britain's Got Talent" had a CD that debuted at No. 1 last November, despite her less-than-impressive appearance. And for those who have seen this woman, you understand that's a euphemism.
Cinema is yet another medium in which the underdog theme has become increasingly common. Consider fat-camp attendees that win giant trophies against their skinny, competitive counterparts across the lake in "Heavyweights." A slew of teenage comedies see the nerd end up with a hot girl at an Ivy League school and a hunky football player donning a Taco Bell uniform or waxing cars. Underdog sports movies are a sub-genre. The neighborhood Mighty Ducks beat the powerful Hawks. Happy Gilmore masters his short game to take the green jacket from pompous Shooter McGavin. One of the most emblematic of these is "Rocky," in which the scrappy title character, who packs meat for a living, goes 15 rounds in the ring with Apollo Creed and gets the girl. This story has not only won three Oscars, but has also made the Philadelphia Museum of Art more famous for its steps than for the masterpieces it houses.
Obviously the reason underdog stories are so prevalent in sports movies is because they dominate the actual world of sports, as well. Who really wants the favored team to win, other than bookies, perhaps? There is a reason George Foreman's two comebacks were as commended by the public as much as his last accomplishment - his grill ubiquitous in infomercials and college apartments nationwide. This weekend, golf enthusiasts everywhere tuned in to the Master's to see if Tiger Woods could take his fifth title after extensive press coverage of his multiple extramarital affairs. Rapper Maino even immortalized this sentiment with his song "Get em' Tiger."
From the Christian beatitude of "blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth," up to recent popular music, like Maino featuring T-Pain's proclamation, "I had been to the bottom/I had suffered a lot/I deserve to be rich/Headin' straight to the top" in "All the Above," the underdog theme has permeated our lives. Whether in a championship game or war battle, we usually find ourselves cheering for the underprivileged party. Why does this disposition persist? Maybe it is because we identify with the underdogs and we feel that if they can do it, we can, too. The notion of triumphs by the poor, weaker or less privileged personifies the American Dream, giving hope to all the little people out there struggling to do something big. Butler, we were all rooting for you and your baby-faced Gordon Hayward last week, and not just because of our hatred of the Blue Devils.
Abby's column runs biweekly Wednesdays. She can be reached at a.coster@cavalierdaily.com.
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