Nice Guys Do Not Finish Last Essay Examples

Leo Durocher, the former baseball manager was known for his fierce competitiveness, as well as his hair-trigger temper. Many of his teams were winners, and because of his managerial success, Durocher drew attention when he spoke, usually loudly. In fact, his nickname was “Leo the Lip.”
It was Durocher who is known for coining the phrase “Nice Guys Finish Last,” a direct reference to the idea that the managers or players who failed to share his fiery spirit were doomed to lose to his team.
However, in the 75 years since “Leo the Lip” was credited with this statement, the meaning behind his words has been examined by many facets of our society. It is the premise behind such popular television shows such as “Survivor” and “The Apprentice.” Both of these contests are won by self-centered, driven individuals who are willing to do whatever is necessary to win, regardless of how back-handed and self-serving their actions might be. Rarely does a “nice guy or girl” win either contest.
But is this statement positive or negative? Inherently, it is negative, because the implication is that one has to be back stabbing and evil in order to be successful. However, there are many examples of successful people, individuals who would hardly be accused of finishing last, who are also well known for their general positive demeanor toward others – in a sense, nice.
Many come from the business world. While the late Steve Jobs was known as a tyrannical genius as the head of Apple Computers, his technological counterpart Bill Gates does not emit the same aura. Gates, who has been the world’s richest man for most of the past 20 years, has now retired from running the day-to-day operations of his company Microsoft, and is now spending more time running the William and Melinda Gates Foundation, a charitable organization which funds many educational and humanitarian causes. In fact, most of the Gates’ 50 billion dollar fortune is tied into the charity. Aside from running the charity, Gates is also involved with trying to get many of his billionaire colleagues, such as Warren Buffett, to sign a “billionaires pact,” one in which the signers agree to donate most of their fortunes to charity. To date, over a dozen billionaires have signed, an act which could be seen as a “nice” gesture.
Another example of “nice” business people who are successful include the ice cream icons Ben and Jerry. Along with providing free day care, gym memberships and three quarts of ice cream a week to their employees, the company also donates 7 ½ percent of all their pre-tax profits to charity. It is very difficult to obtain a job at the Ben and Jerry plant in Vermont.
Nice guys have also been successful in the world of politics. On a recent “Today” show, retired U.S. senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) was interviewed. While serving as a Senator, Simpson was well known for his wry humor and genuine empathy toward all people, especially his colleagues, whether they were from his party or not. On the Today show, Simpson spoke of his current work with trying to get teenagers more involved in the political process. To support his cause, Simpson, now well into his eighties, had his head digitally placed on a Gangnam style dancer as part of a song promoting his effort.
These are just several examples. Even in Durocher’s arena, sports, there are some very successful people who are seen as “nice guys.” In football, Peyton Manning is known for his funny commercials just as much as his football skills. Shaun White and Rory McIlroy are other athletes known for their kindness and sincerity, traits usually reserved for nice people.