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Talking to Your Kids About Brandel: A Parent’s Guide

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The 2018 season promises to be a wild one. For starters, there’s Tiger. There’s drug testing. And if Jason Day stays healthy, we’ll probably see some “back stopping” controversies come up. But the big issue for a lot of parents this year is, “How can I talk to my kids about Brandel Chamblee?”

For the uninformed, Chamblee is the polarizing analyst in the golf business and a longtime analyst for Golf Channel. His opinions make Johnny Miller look like a Switzerland. If you just now had to google his name to see who we’re talking about here, no doubt you just said to yourself, “Oh, that guy.” At any rate, a conversation with your kids about that guy might sound something like this:

Um, Dad? Where did this guy come from? Can he play?

Absolutely. He was an All-American in college at Texas and played on PGA Tour for well over a decade. The guy also won on the PGA Tour, which is not easy. Maybe he wasn’t a household name, but he made more than a little bit of change and certainly doesn’t have to apologize for his career.

Are you sure, Dad? Seems like he does a lot of infomercials.

Listen, kids…We’ve all gotta keep the pool warm. You’ll understand one day. Making an infomercial doesn’t make you a sellout. It just means someone who wants to market their product believes that the public trusts and respects you and Brandel’s earned that respect. He’s a successful author and astute analyst, so if he’s telling you he’s got the keys to the kingdom and all it takes is 60 days and $299.99, people are going to buy in to that dream.

What’s the deal with him being so combative with Duval and Nobilo?

Brandel’s a passionate guy. Duval and Nobilo are in the studio and on Live From because they’re well-spoken professionals who have won multiple events and viewers like them. They know the deal. Chamblee, meanwhile, is also well-spoken but is primarily there because he’s all over the data and video. You may get the impression that he takes runs at his co-hosts on air because he never got a real chance on the course, but the guy absolutely knows his stuff. He may not have time for other people’s stuff, but his stuff he knows well.

Does Brandel hang out with Nobilo and Duval after work?

I’ll put it this way; if Duval, Nobilo and Chamblee were on a ship lost at sea for a few weeks, I’d bet anything the coast guard would eventually find Duval and Nobilo together. Meanwhile, Brandel will likely have built his own personal survival craft in a very upright fashion that he propels thanks to the tremendous rotation he gets rotating his thoracic muscles while the Vs in his oar grip are pointing to his right shoulder.

Why is he so mad at Tiger all the time?

This is where it gets tricky. I think it’s because he loves golf. He has a deep passion for the history of the game and I think he feels like Tiger’s a big part of it and has an obligation to it. So when Tiger took an illegal drop at the Masters in 2013, it was Chamblee who wanted to address it immediately out of a respect for the game. Nobody else — not CBS, not Golf Channel, not even Augusta’s rules committee — saw the situation for what it was: an infraction, albeit unintentional.

Chamblee was right and there have been subsequent rules incidents involving Mr. Woods. He also has issues with Tiger’s swing changes, which is a little ridiculous since he has no idea how Tiger feels physically. It’s kind of like Conan O’Brien telling Eddie Vedder what to feel as he’s writing songs. Does Brandel take cheap shots at Tiger? Probably. But I think he knows that without Tiger, he wouldn’t have the stage he currently does.

Did he play center for the Georgetown Hoyas back in the day?

No, no, no. You’re thinking of Dikimbe Motumbo. Brandel is also known for his blocks, but they are of a different variety. While you might think an analyst of Chamblee’s ilk would openly welcome a dialogue with other coaches and professionals, an inordinately high number of people seem to have been blocked from social media discussions. In Chamblee’s defense, he’s all for discussion provided it’s civil…and people can get emotional when talking about the golf swing. Brandel’s not having that. So if you’re going to try and take it to the rim on Mr. Chamblee, come hard and clean or you will be blocked and rejected like so many Big East power forwards before you.

Dad, what’s with all the big words he uses on Twitter?

One wonders if the circuitous and meandering paths his admonitions and reprimands travel to reach their ultimate destination speak to an unexpressed inadequacy.

Dad, he just kind of looks like a jerk. Is he?

Don’t judge a book by its cover, son. He’s a good dude. I sat next to him at Mastro’s a few years ago in Scottsdale and he was pleasant to both fans that approached him. I’ve seen other stars in similar settings and many of them would do well to follow Brandel’s classy example.

The bottom line is this; Brandel Chamblee is entertaining, smart and you can learn a tremendous amount from his writing, analysis and commentary. He’s far more than a talking head; he’s the real deal. Sure, he’s a little aloof and quirky, but everybody’s got their something. I say Brandel’s good for golf and deserves your attention.

Laz Versalles is a husband, father and golfer who lives in Santa Monica, California. A former club professional, Laz now works in healthcare, coaches a middle school golf team and strives to break 80 whenever he gets a chance to play. A native of Minnesota, Laz is a lifelong Twins and Vikings fan and believes Randy Moss is the most dominant football player than ever walked this earth. You can follow Laz on twitter @laz_versalles

44 Comments

44 Comments

  1. Sean

    Dec 1, 2017 at 6:42 pm

    An air of self-righteous arrogance is his trademark. He’s an entertainer……a skilled self-promoter honing the “brand” in Brandel. Can’t fault him for that.

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 2, 2017 at 12:20 am

      When I read “An air of self-righteous arrogance is his trademark.” I immediately thought, “how does this guy know me?” But then I realized you meant Mr. Chamblee. Thanks for reading, Sean.

  2. Tom54

    Dec 1, 2017 at 5:50 pm

    I thought it was a perfect description of Brandel Chamblee. I believe him way more than Frank Nobilo but Duval certainly has more to say when it comes to having been a top notch player. You got to admit when that three some starts engaging in a topic with different viewpoints it makes for interesting viewing. I think the writer summed up who Brandel Chamblee is even for those of us who do know who he is. Well written indeed

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 2, 2017 at 10:52 pm

      Thank you, Tom. For what it’s worth, I see Duval as a great- and I mean great- combination of player and analyst. His honest and frank views on Rory towards the end of last year were spot on.

  3. saveva

    Dec 1, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    lol hilarious

  4. Bob Jones

    Dec 1, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Brandel’s point of view is always worth hearing. What gets me is his always having to have the last word when people don’t agree with him. Just tell us what you think, Brandel, then move on. Your thoughts are opinions, not Facts Received From Above.

  5. HDTVMAN

    Dec 1, 2017 at 1:17 pm

    When is NBC-Golf Channel going to wake up and fire this jerk. Bones would be a perfect studio replacement when he’s not on the course.

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:23 pm

      I think they like having a polarizing figure. He’s like the Yankees but without all the championships, money, prestige, history, talent, and clout.

  6. Leftshot

    Dec 1, 2017 at 11:36 am

    Brandel is a former player who is unaware of where his expertise begins and ends. He’s the perfect example of a kid who grew up and never learned how to play nice with the other kids.

  7. Kondo

    Dec 1, 2017 at 11:27 am

    In time we will see that Chamblee is actually correct in most of his ideas concerning the swing. He was a better playing in college than the tour. He wanted to get better and took modern instruction and changed his swing to what is now the modern swing. He knows what it did to his game coming from a classic swing. With the evolution of swing to what it is now is reckless at best. Why not emulate the greats of the past? After watching Tiger yesterday and hearing all the ohhs and ahhs about his new swing and speed sounds like Jack’s record is in danger. Actually, Tiger didn’t change what hurt him and I hope I am wrong, but further injury is on the way. No one moves the needle like Tiger does and that makes guys like Chamblee, Duval and Nabilo have jobs. Just my 2 cents.

  8. Allen Freeman

    Dec 1, 2017 at 11:12 am

    Nicely written Laz!

  9. jd57

    Dec 1, 2017 at 9:24 am

    So you think that it’s more likely that a pro is going to aim for another players ball instead of the cup? If they can accurately aim for another ball, why wouldn’t they use that accuracy and aim for the cup?

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:20 pm

      They don’t aim for the ball, they aim for the cup. But by having the other player not mark their ball which is just past the hole or pin high, your ball has a *chance* to hit a “backstop” – the other ball.

  10. alanp

    Dec 1, 2017 at 12:23 am

    quite possibly the best “article” i have ever read here on golfwrx. well done!!

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:25 pm

      Alan- thank you! There are so many great articles on golfwrx, that means a lot. Frankly I think this is my third best of the three I have on golfwrx, but THANK YOU! That made my day.

  11. Tim

    Nov 30, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    With this kind of writing you could be the “chief golf correspondent” on The Daily Show, loved it! Bring us more of this!

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:32 pm

      Tim, Thanks man. I love the daily show! Check out my other two articles on golfwrx.

  12. emb

    Nov 30, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Seems like Brandel comes off as overcompensating and extremely insecure/defensive of his opinions when on air with Nobilo and Duval. It’s like they’re the “players” with the tour experience and insight and Brandel is just the analyst trying to fit in with them and prove his opinons matter or have as much relevancy. Obviously Brandel had a better career than 99.9% of players but his resume pales in comparison to Frank’s and especially David’s and this gives him some sort of chip on his shoulder. Overall he provides fairly good insight sometimes but too often defends opinions that he states as facts that are patently wrong. I think he needs work choosing which hills to die on as often times his incessant defence of his opinions appears foolish and frankly embarrassing. At least he seems to be trying to backtrack on his insane Tiger hate.

  13. mike

    Nov 30, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    Chamblee won the Greater Vancouver open. Slighly better than the Texas Truck stop invitational.
    He should quick trying to act like he was a better player than he was.

    • Laz Versalles

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:31 pm

      I mean….He won? That means he WON. My friend and I were talking last night about how hard it is to win anything that is 36 holes or more. It’s hard, man. And you don’t play golf at Texas just because you have good hair. That’s a tough squad to get playing time. Always has been.

  14. Golfwhiler

    Nov 30, 2017 at 8:17 am

    His book is bloody brilliant (“The Anatomy of Greatness”). His insights into the illustration errors in Ben Hogan’s “Five Lessons” are alone worth the price of the book.

    That said, I don’t watch the Golf Channel. If I have time to watch golf on TV, I’m usually trying to play a round.

  15. JE

    Nov 30, 2017 at 5:28 am

    This is a well-written, interesting read. Nice work Mr. Versalles.

  16. Jerry

    Nov 30, 2017 at 3:41 am

    Brandel is not exactly a teacher or technician of the swing, and it gets him in trouble with Swing Gurus who teach PGA pros for a living. They don’t talk the talk, they walk the walk. Brandel talks.

  17. yoduto

    Nov 30, 2017 at 12:23 am

    In Greek mythology, there is a story about Sisyphus pushing a big rock up a hill only to have it roll back down over and over again. Likewise, what seems like a laborious and futile effort on our part to achieve an important goal, are carefully designed exercises by golf sources to teach you an important lesson in the building of your character. An epiphany will bring a penetrating insight into a matter of vital importance.

  18. Bob

    Nov 29, 2017 at 9:44 pm

    I must confess I’m no fan. I think the main problem with Brandel is how arrogant he comes across. He seems more interested in sounding smart and appearing intellectual than being frank and honest (hence why he loves using words that the majority of people don’t understand). It is also why he blocks people who disagree with him. I love honest views, good opinions and debate not intellectual grandstanding.

    • Laz Versalles

      Nov 29, 2017 at 11:34 pm

      I think you just summarized the entire OpEd! Nice job. Anyways, you’re not wrong. He comes across that way. If you listen to him on Dan Patrick he’s a little better but still comes across as a little aloof and stuffy.

    • walter

      Nov 30, 2017 at 12:25 am

      Our Brandel Trump…..

  19. Mike

    Nov 29, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    Brandel is bias, which makes his analysis questionable. For example, when Brandel needs attention he will post or say something controversial and/or negative about TW or Rory his two favorite targets. Whether he’s right or wrong, Brandel has a hidden agenda and a lot of the pros know it, which is why he’s in the studio often and not on the range building relationships with pros.

    • Laz Versalles

      Nov 29, 2017 at 11:40 pm

      You’re not wrong Mike. Be honest, would you have written that had the Billy Hoershel spat not surfaced? As I tried to point out, he’s got his way” and leans on it heavily.

    • walter

      Nov 30, 2017 at 12:26 am

      Somewhat like Trump?

  20. Acemandrake

    Nov 29, 2017 at 6:58 pm

    “And if Jason Day stays healthy, we’ll probably see some “back stopping” controversies come up.”

    What does this mean/refer to?

  21. Hawkeye77

    Nov 29, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    Wow, someone hasn’t been paying attention for 8 years. Brandel absolutely dislikes Tiger, and no, it didn’t stem from the incident at the Masters (where Brandel was WRONG and was a complete jerk about it on air and got called out by his co-workers) – he has been on Tiger’s case since 2009 and made his major career move kicking Tiger while he was down and doing it repeatedly. Then the cheating accusations which he was forced to dial back. He’s tried the last few years to be “balanced” about Tiger, but he can’t hide from his body of work for several years as much as he now tries to do so. And no, he doesn’t “know his stuff” he just is overbearing about it, and his ability to diagnose golf swings is pretty poor. You can see Nobilo and Duval seething from time to time because of Brandel’s know it all attitude and often strange claims (just to be strange) – he may be a good guy off air and clearly is an intelligent person, but make no mistake he’s invented himself and is pretty proud of what he has invented. Silly article.

    • Hawkeye77

      Nov 29, 2017 at 10:12 pm

      LOL, now my comment is awaiting “moderation” – nothing inappropriate about it at all.

  22. The Wiz

    Nov 29, 2017 at 4:16 pm

    Chamblee is an underachieving fool. I wouldn’t allow my children to listen to this idiot.

    • the dude

      Nov 29, 2017 at 7:24 pm

      Fool?….what makes him a fool. if anything, the other individuals that know less than he does are the real fools……oh…and he’s an idiot?….how? (seriously, this site should require a minimum age to share opinions……..lets say 9)

      At the end of the day this guy educates and entertains…….period

      now get your homework done, brush your teeth and have mommy tuck you in……

    • Laz Versalles

      Nov 29, 2017 at 7:29 pm

      Hmmm. Underachiever? All-American, PGA Tour winner, author. Not too bad.

    • Matt-78

      Dec 1, 2017 at 1:40 pm

      I do sometimes disagree with Brandel and he can definitely rub me the wrong way sometimes, but underachiever he is not.

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Opinion & Analysis

The 2 primary challenges golf equipment companies face

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As the editor-in-chief of this website and an observer of the GolfWRX forums and other online golf equipment discourse for over a decade, I’m pretty well attuned to the grunts and grumbles of a significant portion of the golf equipment purchasing spectrum. And before you accuse me of lording above all in some digital ivory tower, I’d like to offer that I worked at golf courses (public and private) for years prior to picking up my pen, so I’m well-versed in the non-degenerate golf equipment consumers out there. I touched (green)grass (retail)!

Complaints about the ills of and related to the OEMs usually follow some version of: Product cycles are too short for real innovation, tour equipment isn’t the same as retail (which is largely not true, by the way), too much is invested in marketing and not enough in R&D, top staffer X hasn’t even put the new driver in play, so it’s obviously not superior to the previous generation, prices are too high, and on and on.

Without digging into the merits of any of these claims, which I believe are mostly red herrings, I’d like to bring into view of our rangefinder what I believe to be the two primary difficulties golf equipment companies face.

One: As Terry Koehler, back when he was the CEO of Ben Hogan, told me at the time of the Ft Worth irons launch, if you can’t regularly hit the golf ball in a coin-sized area in the middle of the face, there’s not a ton that iron technology can do for you. Now, this is less true now with respect to irons than when he said it, and is less and less true by degrees as the clubs get larger (utilities, fairways, hybrids, drivers), but there remains a great deal of golf equipment truth in that statement. Think about it — which is to say, in TL;DR fashion, get lessons from a qualified instructor who will teach you about the fundamentals of repeatable impact and how the golf swing works, not just offer band-aid fixes. If you can’t repeatably deliver the golf club to the golf ball in something resembling the manner it was designed for, how can you expect to be getting the most out of the club — put another way, the maximum value from your investment?

Similarly, game improvement equipment can only improve your game if you game it. In other words, get fit for the clubs you ought to be playing rather than filling the bag with the ones you wish you could hit or used to be able to hit. Of course, don’t do this if you don’t care about performance and just want to hit a forged blade while playing off an 18 handicap. That’s absolutely fine. There were plenty of members in clubs back in the day playing Hogan Apex or Mizuno MP-32 irons who had no business doing so from a ballstriking standpoint, but they enjoyed their look, feel, and complementary qualities to their Gatsby hats and cashmere sweaters. Do what brings you a measure of joy in this maddening game.

Now, the second issue. This is not a plea for non-conforming equipment; rather, it is a statement of fact. USGA/R&A limits on every facet of golf equipment are detrimental to golf equipment manufacturers. Sure, you know this, but do you think about it as it applies to almost every element of equipment? A 500cc driver would be inherently more forgiving than a 460cc, as one with a COR measurement in excess of 0.83. 50-inch shafts. Box grooves. And on and on.

Would fewer regulations be objectively bad for the game? Would this erode its soul? Fortunately, that’s beside the point of this exercise, which is merely to point out the facts. The fact, in this case, is that equipment restrictions and regulations are the slaughterbench of an abundance of innovation in the golf equipment space. Is this for the best? Well, now I’ve asked the question twice and might as well give a partial response, I guess my answer to that would be, “It depends on what type of golf you’re playing and who you’re playing it with.”

For my part, I don’t mind embarrassing myself with vintage blades and persimmons chasing after the quasi-spiritual elevation of a well-struck shot, but that’s just me. Plenty of folks don’t give a damn if their grooves are conforming. Plenty of folks think the folks in Liberty Corner ought to add a prison to the museum for such offences. And those are just a few of the considerations for the amateur game — which doesn’t get inside the gallery ropes of the pro game…

Different strokes in the game of golf, in my humble opinion.

Anyway, I believe equipment company engineers are genuinely trying to build better equipment year over year. The marketing departments are trying to find ways to make this equipment appeal to the broadest segment of the golf market possible. All of this against (1) the backdrop of — at least for now — firm product cycles. And golfers who, with their ~15 average handicap (men), for the most part, are not striping the golf ball like Tiger in his prime and seem to have less and less time year over year to practice and improve. (2) Regulations that massively restrict what they’re able to do…

That’s the landscape as I see it and the real headwinds for golf equipment companies. No doubt, there’s more I haven’t considered, but I think the previous is a better — and better faith — point of departure when formulating any serious commentary on the golf equipment world than some of the more cynical and conspiratorial takes I hear.

Agree? Disagree? Think I’m worthy of an Adam Hadwin-esque security guard tackle? Let me know in the comments.

@golfoncbs The infamous Adam Hadwin tackle ? #golf #fyp #canada #pgatour #adamhadwin ? Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz – MaSssuguMusic

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Fore Love of Golf: Introducing a new club concept

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Episode #16 brings us Cliff McKinney. Cliff is the founder of Old Charlie Golf Club, a new club, and concept, to be built in the Florida panhandle. The model is quite interesting and aims to make great, private golf more affordable. We hope you enjoy the show!

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Opinion & Analysis

On Scottie Scheffler wondering ‘What’s the point of winning?’

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Last week, I came across a reel from BBC Sport on Instagram featuring Scottie Scheffler speaking to the media ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush. In it, he shared that he often wonders what the point is of wanting to win tournaments so badly — especially when he knows, deep down, that it doesn’t lead to a truly fulfilling life.

 

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“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it because I’ve literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,” Scheffler said. “To have that kind of sense of accomplishment, I think, is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what’s the point?”

Ironically — or perhaps perfectly — he went on to win the claret jug.

That question — what’s the point of winning? — cuts straight to the heart of the human journey.

As someone who’s spent over two decades in the trenches of professional golf, and in deep study of the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the game, I see Scottie’s inner conflict as a sign of soul evolution in motion.

I came to golf late. I wasn’t a junior standout or college All-American. At 27, I left a steady corporate job to see if I could be on the PGA Tour starting as a 14-handicap, average-length hitter. Over the years, my journey has been defined less by trophies and more by the relentless effort to navigate the deeply inequitable and gated system of professional golf — an effort that ultimately turned inward and helped me evolve as both a golfer and a person.

One perspective that helped me make sense of this inner dissonance around competition and our culture’s tendency to overvalue winning is the idea of soul evolution.

The University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies has done extensive research on reincarnation, and Netflix’s Surviving Death (Episode 6) explores the topic, too. Whether you take it literally or metaphorically, the idea that we’re on a long arc of growth — from beginner to sage elder — offers a profound perspective.

If you accept the premise literally, then terms like “young soul” and “old soul” start to hold meaning. However, even if we set the word “soul” aside, it’s easy to see that different levels of life experience produce different worldviews.

Newer souls — or people in earlier stages of their development — may be curious and kind but still lack discernment or depth. There is a naivety, and they don’t yet question as deeply, tending to see things in black and white, partly because certainty feels safer than confronting the unknown.

As we gain more experience, we begin to experiment. We test limits. We chase extreme external goals — sometimes at the expense of health, relationships, or inner peace — still operating from hunger, ambition, and the fragility of the ego.

It’s a necessary stage, but often a turbulent and unfulfilling one.

David Duval fell off the map after reaching World No. 1. Bubba Watson had his own “Is this it?” moment with his caddie, Ted Scott, after winning the Masters.

In Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, reflecting on his 2011 Super Bowl win, Rodgers said:

“Now I’ve accomplished the only thing that I really, really wanted to do in my life. Now what? I was like, ‘Did I aim at the wrong thing? Did I spend too much time thinking about stuff that ultimately doesn’t give you true happiness?’”

Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”

Eventually, though, something shifts.

We begin to see in shades of gray. Winning, dominating, accumulating—these pursuits lose their shine. The rewards feel more fleeting. Living in a constant state of fight-or-flight makes us feel alive, yes, but not happy and joyful.

Compassion begins to replace ambition. Love, presence, and gratitude become more fulfilling than status, profits, or trophies. We crave balance over burnout. Collaboration over competition. Meaning over metrics.

Interestingly, if we zoom out, we can apply this same model to nations and cultures. Countries, like people, have a collective “soul stage” made up of the individuals within them.

Take the United States, for example. I’d place it as a mid-level soul: highly competitive and deeply driven, but still learning emotional maturity. Still uncomfortable with nuance. Still believing that more is always better. Despite its global wins, the U.S. currently ranks just 23rd in happiness (as of 2025). You might liken it to a gifted teenager—bold, eager, and ambitious, but angsty and still figuring out how to live well and in balance. As much as a parent wants to protect their child, sometimes the child has to make their own mistakes to truly grow.

So when Scottie Scheffler wonders what the point of winning is, I don’t see someone losing strength.

I see someone evolving.

He’s beginning to look beyond the leaderboard. Beyond metrics of success that carry a lower vibration. And yet, in a poetic twist, Scheffler did go on to win The Open. But that only reinforces the point: even at the pinnacle, the question remains. And if more of us in the golf and sports world — and in U.S. culture at large — started asking similar questions, we might discover that the more meaningful trophy isn’t about accumulating or beating others at all costs.

It’s about awakening and evolving to something more than winning could ever promise.

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