Cinderella Story

In Judith Viorst’s classic children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Alexander experiences a day where nothing goes his way. From waking up with gum in his hair to enduring an awful day at school and dinner lacking his favorite dessert, everything that can go wrong does. By the end of the book, Alexander comes to realize that bad days happen to everyone—even in Australia.

This notion of unpredictable fortunes—of good and bad days strung together—is not exclusive to children’s literature. The world of sports, too, is full of stories where an individual or team rises unexpectedly, experiencing the highest of highs before fading into obscurity. These Cinderella stories, where the underdog achieves greatness against all odds, are some of the most compelling narratives in sports history. While some Cinderella stories lead to continued success, others are more like one-hit wonders—brilliant for a moment, then gone, like Alexander’s hopes for a better day.

Cinderella Stories: The Magic of the Underdog

One of the most celebrated Cinderella stories in modern sports is that of Emma Raducanu. At the 2021 US Open, Raducanu, a British teenager, became the first qualifier in the Open Era to win a Grand Slam singles title. Ranked outside the world’s top 300 earlier that year, she entered the tournament as a virtual unknown and stormed through the competition without dropping a set. Her victory was one of the most astonishing achievements in tennis history, a moment of sporting perfection that encapsulated the magic of Cinderella stories. Though Raducanu is still young and has many years ahead of her, she has yet to replicate that same level of success, leaving many wondering if her US Open triumph was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

While it is easy to see how an individual can string together a week of great achievement. It is harder to conceive of a team being able to do with so many more contributing factors.  Yet we see teams that are profound underdogs do it on the biggest stages. 

The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, often referred to as “March Madness,” is one of the most thrilling spectacles in sports. Every year, it captivates millions of fans with its unpredictability, drama, and excitement. What makes it so compelling is the sheer possibility of the underdog rising to the occasion and defeating powerhouse teams. From buzzer-beaters to last-minute upsets, the tournament is a celebration of talent, resilience, and the magic that can happen when the unexpected occurs. It’s a stage where Cinderella stories come to life—where lower-seeded teams knock out the giants, and where an 11-seed like LSU in 1986 can make a historic run to the Final Four. The NCAA Tournament reminds us that in sports, as in life, anything is possible, and that’s what keeps us coming back year after year.

In team sports, the 1986 LSU Tigers men’s basketball team embodies the essence of the Cinderella story. Entering the NCAA tournament as an 11-seed, they became the first team ever to defeat the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 seeds in the same tournament. LSU’s run to the Final Four was improbable, as they narrowly edged out Memphis State, Georgia Tech, and Kentucky in a series of nail-biting victories. Though they ultimately fell short in the national semifinals against Louisville, their journey remains one of the most legendary in March Madness history. The Tigers have never quite replicated that magic, making their 1986 run a singular moment in time.

One-Hit Wonders: When Lightning Strikes Once

Not all sports miracles lead to sustained greatness. Some athletes and teams capture magic just once, making their moment in the sun even more remarkable. Just as Alexander had a terrible day, only to hope for a better one tomorrow, some athletes have one incredible day (or season) but never quite recapture it.

Take Buster Douglas, for example. In 1990, Douglas shocked the world by defeating the seemingly invincible Mike Tyson to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion. Tyson, undefeated and considered unbeatable, was knocked out in one of the greatest upsets in sports history. However, Douglas lost his very next fight to Evander Holyfield, and his career never reached those heights again.

Similarly, Leicester City’s 2015-16 English Premier League title remains one of the most astonishing achievements in sports. A team that had barely avoided relegation the season before went on to win the most competitive soccer league in the world, defying 5000-to-1 odds. Though Leicester continued to compete respectably in the years that followed, they have not come close to winning another Premier League title, making their Cinderella season a true one-hit wonder.

The Highs and Lows of Sports: Strung-Together Good and Bad Days

Just as Alexander experiences both good and bad days, athletes and teams often endure cycles of success and struggle. For every Cinderella story, there are countless tales of near-misses, sudden downfalls, and fleeting triumphs.

Consider the case of Nick Anderson and the Orlando Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals. The Magic were on the cusp of securing a critical Game 1 victory against the Houston Rockets when Anderson missed four consecutive free throws in the final moments. The Magic never recovered, getting swept in the series. Anderson’s career continued, but that moment remained a defining one, illustrating how one bad day in sports can overshadow many good ones.

Or look at the Buffalo Bills of the early 1990s. They reached four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990 to 1993—an impressive feat—but lost each one. Their journey was filled with great days, but they were always followed by the ultimate disappointment. The Bills remain a respected franchise, yet their inability to win the big one keeps their story bittersweet.

Conclusion: The Unpredictability of Sports and Life

The beauty of sports lies in its unpredictability—the way underdogs can have their day and giants can fall. Cinderella stories remind us that greatness can come from unexpected places, even if it doesn’t last forever. One-hit wonders prove that a single, fleeting moment of glory can be as powerful as a sustained career of excellence. And just like Alexander learns to accept both the good and bad days, sports teach us that triumph and heartbreak are often two sides of the same coin.

Whether it’s Emma Raducanu’s US Open win, LSU’s improbable Final Four run, or Leicester City’s fairy-tale Premier League title, these moments remind us why we love sports. Because every game, every match, and every day has the potential to be either a terrible, no good, very bad day—or the best day of all.

The key life lesson from both Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and Cinderella stories in sports is that life is full of ups and downs—both success and failure are temporary.

• Embrace the highs, accept the lows – Just as Cinderella teams and one-hit wonders experience brief moments of greatness, we all have moments where everything goes right. But just like Alexander learns that bad days happen to everyone, we must accept that setbacks are a natural part of life.
  
• Opportunities can come from anywhere – Underdogs like Emma Raducanu or the 1986 LSU Tigers remind us that even when the odds seem against us, success is possible. Perseverance and seizing the moment can lead to incredible achievements.
  
• Failure doesn’t define you – Athletes and teams that experience one shining moment but never quite repeat it can still be proud of what they accomplished. Similarly, a bad day or a single failure doesn’t determine a person’s entire life—it’s just one chapter in a much longer story.
  

Ultimately, whether in sports or life, we must learn to enjoy victories when they come, weather the tough days, and keep moving forward, knowing that both good and bad moments are temporary.