WITH the Scotland national rugby team succumbing to a 16-12 defeat to the Auld Enemy on Saturday, one wonders whether losing has become an innate characteristic of Scottish identity.
It seems apparent that no matter what sport we partake in the outcome is normally one of frustration and 'glorious failure'.
That tiresome phrase has been banded about for years perhaps in direct proportion to our lengthy wait for some sort of momentous victory.
Yet is it a self fulfilling prophecy?
It is almost as if we were born brilliant losers. The nation has their expectations significantly raised before any big match – perhaps the media are to blame – and then in the aftermath whether it be in football, rugby, tennis or any other sport we are filled with the same juxtaposed feeling of despair and pride that watching Scotland and our sports men and women competing usually brings.
Referee's are vehemently sworn at for 'that' decision which cost us, the pitch just didn't suit us, the weather affected our play are the usual excuses which are made to soften the blow.
Pints are launched across the room, TV's thrown out of flat windows but once normality is restored and we accept that we were inches away from a famous win we take solace from the fact that we tried our best.
We can be proud of what 'our wee nation' has achieved – but the harsh reality is in the end it just isn't enough when it comes to competing in elite level sport.
Scotland were 12-3 up against England with half-an-hour to play why couldn't we have maintained that lead or at least held on?
Who pressed that notorious self destruct button which ultimately ended the dreams of a nation – again.
Or am I being to harsh? Do we just accept that the better team won – their play merited the victory and they deserve the plaudits coming their way?
From the evidence of Saturday's game this could not be further from the truth, England did just enough and no more and now progress to the quarter finals.
In football, the last time Scotland reached a major competition was when I had hopes and ambitions of playing for the country myself - suffice to say it was not yesterday.
The year 1998 seems a long time ago over 13 years, one wonders whether it will be another 13 years before we reach another World Cup – I certainly hope not.
It seems every qualifying competition, whether it be in the Euro's or the World Cup there was always that one result which if it had gone the way of us, we would have ended the barren spell.
Will we look back at the disastrous 4-6-0 formation in Prague and rue that decision – hindseight is a wonderful thing.
But maybe multiple World Champion cyclist and Olympic gold medalist Sir Chris Hoy would have something to say about this blog perhaps he is the exception to the unwritten rule – that Scots are born losers.
He is the most successful in his sport of all time, he has proven that it is possible for Scots to reach the peak in their elected sport – what makes him different?
And with tennis star Andy Murray, the question seems to be not if he will win a major but when.
Having already reached three finals – the 2008 US Open, 2010 and 2011 Austrialian Open the Scot has illustrated the potential he has to win a grand slam.
But is this itself 'glorious failure' he has always been there or thereabouts but the real prize has eluded him so far in his career.
Perhaps it is ingrained in our culture – even the national anthem suggests glorious defeat in the face of adversity: “And we can still rise now and be the nation again” reads the line.
It is all about bouncing back from loss and being determined to right the wrongs that have pervaded our history and perhaps that is reflected in our sport today.
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