One of the most overused metaphors in sports is the notion of the “Cinderella Story” to characterize an underdog team on a championship run. Anyone who has ever tuned their TV to ESPN around March has seen Dick Vitale bubbling up like a frat boy’s smoke-piece at the thought of a low seed making a tournament run (maybe I’m being harsh, both his daughters went to ND). Yet at its basis, the “Cinderella Story” is a restoration tale in which the protagonist falls from power, and then ascends once again in unlikely fashion.
The fundamental flaw in the title; the teams that are true “Cinderella” stories are NEVER in a position of power. These underdogs rise from the depths of the unknown without any expectation from the audience. There tends to be no basis of judging on past success, since there is none. Otherwise, it’d be about fulfilling a legacy. I’m talking 1980 US Hockey gold medal, 11-seed George Mason in the Final Four, and the ’04 Red Sox winning the Series. So call them “Sleeping Beauty’s” instead. Doesn’t have the same ring, does it?
Furthermore, the analysts that use this metaphor try to spin it both ways. When an underdog is winning, it is Cinderella on its way to a "fairytale finish". When that team loses, its “clock has struck midnight” and will be “leaving the dance”. You can’t have it both ways and still be loyal to the story. Cinderella is a restoration piece, so that makes the Yankees this year’s Cinderella team. ← Ugh, I hate to think that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhH8n_Atn1A
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