The Honor Of Being The Villain.

Axe throwing is an underdog’s sport.

We, as a collective, typically cheer for the person who is less likely to win. We celebrate personal achievements. We hoot and hollar when a new thrower hits a clutch, and clap sensibly when a veteran gets yet another 81.

And if you’re accepting all of that above, I’ll venture to say you’re primed and ready for this: it is an honor to be the person that the crowd is cheering against.

Lemmesplain: For a long time in my axe throwing career, I was someone people cheered for. At my home venue, at tourneys away, everywhere: people tried to gas me up. And it wasn’t a big secret as to why: I wasn’t (and often still, am not) a very good axe thrower. So as is often the case, the crowd saw my faffing about and decided I was the underdog, and deserved their support.

Move your mind’s eye to a year or so ago, and I started getting cheered against. Maybe not at tourneys outside of the meadery, but certainly within the meadery. And when I realized I’d become the villain of the match, I knew that I had truly developed as a thrower. At least enough for the faceless, undulant of match watchers to choose me as the…overdog?
überdog?

Updog?

(Update: Jenny Beams has informed me the proper name is Overcat)

This is a little different than being a mid-level boss (which I discussed here in the past). It’s not about becoming a way-marker for one’s development. No, I think this is much more about being perceived as a constant threat and as someone who’s reached a level that, predictably, will win out against most less-experienced, less-veteran throwers.

I also think it’s easy to get in your own head about not being the fan favorite. About hearing people clap like crazy for your opponent’s successful clutch and maybe get a single dude whoo’ing for yours. But keep in mind: if you’re good enough that other people are choosing to be cheerleaders for your opponent, that means you’ve started a new chapter in your axe throwing career. You’re capable of being the match villain, and it’s an honor. I’m not saying you should invest in a top hat, cape, and curly mustache or anything–or that you should try to act the part by pushing over your opponent and such. It’s possible to be a cool villain, and also cheer for the underdog thrower (which I also feel kinda pushed into saying over and over – anyone can beat anyone on any given day. I’m using it as a device, here).

Anyway, all of this to say it’s important to recognize when you’ve reached your villainhood. Enjoy it. Be the big bad scary that a newer thrower gets to overcome to uproarious applause.