I once had a college philosophy professor open a seminar with a question for the class.
“Why do we put people on pedestals?”
Thought provoking as it was, I was quick to assume it was because they had done something extraordinary that earned praise. He had a different reason.
“Because we so much enjoy knocking them off.”
That was a rather negative way to view human nature but, as I have lived my life, I have seen a lot of examples to support he was right. Even in my chosen profession of football I have seen fans elevate teams to mythical levels, only to boo them when they stumble. This season alone we have seen a number of teams hailed as potential Super Bowl winners only to have those aspirations come crashing down in a matter of weeks.
This season started with the Philadelphia Eagles the favorite to repeat as Super Bowl Champions and no one was dismissing their chances after they won their first four games. After opening with a win over the Dallas Cowboys, in second week action their pedestal perch was elevated when they beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.