More Embarrassing Than Quitting?

People always say that quitting is bad, and that quitters will go to hell. By accepting this as a truism, we subject ourselves to moments of utter embarrassment that will linger long after the lesson of sportsmanship. So I ask, is it ever okay to quit?

You see, while history may be kind to the loser, there is a special place in the colon of humanity reserved for those who lose in spectacular fashion. Need proof? Ask Bill Buckner.

Fast forward to September 10, 2008. When the ladies of Bulgaria faced off against the Slovakia in an Olympic qualifier for women's ice hockey, they probably knew they would lose, they just didn't know it would haunt them forever.

In what has been confirmed as the largest margin of victory in a sanctioned Women's International Ice Hockey game, Slovakia routed Bulgaria 82-0.

82-0. The game is only 60 minutes long.

What was Bulgaria thinking around 30-0? The Slovakia coach was thinking it was time for a little training. And I'm not guessing. He actually said that.

So I ask again, was it better that Bulgaria finished the game? Is it better that Bulgaria had its 'ghina served 82 times? Will the lesson of this game linger longer than record? This blog post? The 182 articles that google returned?

Sometimes its just better to concede.