Tuesday December 17
December 17 — a Tuesday this year — will be Underdog Day — honoring unsung heroes such Robinson Crusoe’s Man Monday and Sherlock Holmes’ Dr. Watson..
It also celebrates those who “came from behind” to make names for themselves — ending up as top dogs in Malcom Gladwell’s” New Yorker article “How David Beats Goliath: When underdogs break the rules.” And now a book David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants.
Examples of more underdogs are David in the Bible who conquered Goliath; Robert the Bruce, whose victorious army was outnumbered three to one at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 (not to be confused with William Wallace of “Braveheart” fame); U.S. President Harry Truman; boxer James “Buster” Johnson, who defeated Mike Tyson in 1990; Rocky Balboa of the “Rocky” film franchise and the hapless cat in the “Tom and Jerry” cartoons.
Underdog Trivia — orgin of the word “underdog”
The original meaning of the word “underdog” originated from sawsmen who built ships. Planks of wood called “dogs” were placed over the top of a pit, and two men would have to supervise the placing of these planks. One man would stand on top of the planks, and one man would stand underneath the planks in the dark pit, where he would be covered in sawdust. This poor, sorrowful man was known as the underdog.
Do you have other examples of Underdogs you’d like to tell us about?
Please email them to us: contactus@dullmen.com
