Pre-mature Celebrations

​I have seen a few videos on-line that are both funny and sad.  They show someone who is winning a contest and celebrating, only to have someone overtake and beat them.
The latest was called, “never celebrate too early or give up.”  The celebrating too early was obvious.  What was less obvious was the one who had their head down and tail up coming through and winning, when it looked like a forgone conclusion that they did not.  They never gave up.
I have seen a few matches on tv where the team in front thought they had it won.  They relax.  They take their foot off the pedal.  Their opposition had other ideas though.  They did not turn up to make up the numbers.  They turned up to win.
Years ago, I saw the Broncos go down to Penrith like that.  I have never seen three tries scored in such quick succession.  Suddenly the Broncos had lost, whereas five minutes from the end it looked like they had won.  It was a shock to everyone.  It seems the Broncos were singing the team song before the end of the game.  The team song can only be sung after the game.
In America it is “it ain’t over until the fat lady sings.”  Here it is “it ain’t over until it is over.”  Whatever the case, it is pointless to play to the crowd like a penalty has been saved, and then have the ball roll into the goals while celebrating elsewhere.  It is pointless to raise the front tyre of the bike like you have won until you have won.  To do so just looks silly.  Laughable.  Those people did anyway.  That’s the way I end up looking as well, when my celebration is premature.
I find hurdle racing hard to watch.  Someone can be a mile in front.  But celebrations are on hold until the last hurdle is jumped, and the finish line crossed.  My heart was in my mouth for the Cathy Freeman race in the Sydney Olympics.  Form said she was a sure thing.  Everything pointed to her winning.  But she had not won until she had won.
I remember dad telling me about a pilot in their group.  The war was over.  They came into land and clipped trees and that was the end of them.  Celebration cannot happen until the propellers are off, and the walk away from the plane is done.
The same goes for me big time.  There may be no propellers involved but celebrating too early can take many forms.  Sometimes I can think I have it won and come a cropper.
I can be a sure thing.  The form guide can point to me having a win.  But I have not had a win until I have won it.  Until then, the celebrations are on hold.