I'm glad I'm not a sailing fanatic or America's Cup follower.
I haven't watched any of the races live and yet I still get heart palpitations listening to the live radio commentary on my way to work, strain to hear how the weather, whales and time-outs have played havoc with the race, and pore over newspapers to learn how Team New Zealand, despite having a huge lead initially, let that advantage sail away.
I'm gutted and I'm not even a die-hard fan.
It's like watching the Manawatu Turbos come within a whisker of beating teams like Auckland, Wellington and Otago, only to have the wheels fall off in the last 15 minutes of the majority of their ITM Cup games so far.
Initially, the Turbos used the element of surprise and embraced their underdog status, often putting points on the board when their opposition was taking them lightly, playing half-heartedly or making errors.
The tactic worked initially and they slowly but surely built up their points to keep them within striking distance of that elusive win. Unfortunately, this strategy doesn't seem to last for the full 80 minutes, and if enough of a lead is not achieved in that first 60, the sleeping giant suddenly wakes up and annihilates us.
And by ''us'', I'm referring to the underdog. If rugby was a 60-minute game, the Turbos would be at the top of the table.
If the America's Cup was a first-to-eight race, this regatta would have been over ages ago and the Auld Mug would well and truly be on its way to Auckland.
What happens in the minds, hearts and bodies of these men that blocks a win from eventuating?Is it fatigue? Is it a fear of winning? Is it choking?To suggest that Team New Zealand - or the Turbos - hate being the favourites, or are chokers, is nonsense.
Everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to taste victory. Sometimes, however, we don't have the resources or means to do it.
Not being able to put the nail in the coffin is more to do with the sleeping giants in sport getting their act together and putting all of their resources to good use. When they put their mind to it, they stop playing with their food and devour it - in one gigantic, stomach-turning bite.
It is about teams who are better resourced pulling finger and overcoming the element of surprise or their own complacency.
It was suggested ages ago that Oracle was the faster boat, but when Team New Zealand started off so well, with good teamwork and slick turns, we let ourselves believe that David could beat Goliath.
Likewise, the Manawatu Turbos are minnows in the ITM Cup, but when they manage to stay within reach of the bigger union teams for the first three-quarters of the game, every wannabe buckethead believes, for a fraction of their life, that it is possible for minnows to beat sharks.
But the laws of nature are difficult to defy. It is no wonder that the well-resourced Oracle team has done everything it possibly can to overcome its slow start to this event - and it is no miracle that the NPC teams with more Super Rugby players in their ranks eventually dominate in the dying minutes of a game.
If David was alive today, what advice would he give the likes of Team NZ and the Manawatu Turbos?Make the most of the element of surprise for as long as they can. Store away as much of an advantage as you can while the giant is still in slumber mode. When it awakes, remember that what you lack in size and wealth you gain in agility and entrepreneurial spirit.
Upset Goliath by using tactics that play to your collective strengths and expose his few weaknesses.
Stroke Goliath's ego and entice him to navel-gaze and monologue in the hope that this will distract him from devouring you.
Last, but not least, hope for that lucky shot. Cross all your fingers and toes, pray with all your heart and soul and hope that the elements, the gods, and lady luck are on your side.
If none of these tactics work and you come out the other side still in one piece, count your lucky stars that you lived to tell the tale about the one that was within your grasp but got away.
Everyone, although gutted, will understand that the odds were stacked against you.
And if you manage to pull it off and win? Well, hallelujah!
