This is rather famous saying is actually really true. I have two examples that confirm this. One is Michael Schumacher, famous Formula 1 racer. The other is my dad.
Michael Schumacher of 90s
Back in 90s Schumacher was very likable and admirable personally of Formula 1 world. He often had slower car that his rivals, Damon Hill, Jaques Villeneuve and Mika Hakkinen. However, he had determination to fight for victory and never give up. On that sheer determination he won against them when he could. Shumacher became champion twice with competitive, but slower than Williams of 1994 and 1995, Benetton.
Then Ferrari offered him more money to switch to them. While one of the most titled teams of F1, Ferrari of 1996 was actually slow and even less competitive than Benetton. However, Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Nick Fry were lured there by the money they offered and set to make Ferrari win again.
That was easier said than done. In 1996 they barely managed to beat their former team Benetton, who took in uncompetitive Jean Alezi from Ferrari to replace Schumacher. In 1995 in Ferrari Alezi was not even close to Benetton. However, Schumacher shoved that he could get any car faster than what other racers could do.
In 1997 Ferrari with Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Nick Fry could compete with Williams again. Williams was still faster than them, but they press and almost won. On the last race Schumacher leaded but collided with Villeneuve and had to retire. Not only he lost race and championship, but race stewards also decided that he crushed into Villeneuve deliberately and took away all of his points for the season. Similar incident in 1994 was not considered Schumacher's fault, but allowed him to win.
In 1998 Willams got slow and uncompetitive, but McLaren instead get fast Mercedes engines. They were so good it was as if they were in, they own class of racing and everyone else was Formula 1.5. Only Schumacher could possibly chase after then and sometimes beat them. Everyone else settled for competing for the 4th place after both McLarens and Schumacher. Even in these conditions Schumacher kept the intrigue of championship all the way to the last race, and only lost after his car broke down.
Ferrari and Shumacher could somewhat breach the gap in 1999, but he crashed mid-season and broke his leg. He had to stay in hospital almost to the end of the season and once again lost his chances for his next champion title. He however recovered from a crush and returned for the last two races of the season to help his teammate Eddy Irvine to become a champion for the team. On one of these he even deliberately slowed down to let Eddy pass him, win and get more points in championship.
Only in 2000 after four years of trials, Schumacher became champion again, this time for Ferrari. That felt very well deserved and made his fans happy.
Schumacher of the 2000s and 2010s
Then came era of Shumacher and Ferrari dominance. They became unreachable and reduced the rest of the F1 to Formula 1.5. At times there were some intrigues as to who will become champion. Other years Shumacher would simply win almost every race and secure championship mid-season.
One time on such mid-season race Ferrari even ordered his then teammate Barrichello to let him pass to secure their next championship. Similar to how Schumacher himself let Irvine pass him in 1999. However, in 1999 it was a penultimate race and championship really was at stake. In 2002 Schumacher was so far ahead in championship points, it was only a question of mathematical probability for any of his opponents.
Schumacher wanted to somehow ease out the fallout by giving Barrichello his trophy, but it did little to help the issue. From crown favorite underdog, he was evolving into a Red Baron who sometimes wins on backs of his subordinates.
Ferrari of course needed victories as well, so team was pleased with a teamwork the Schumacher and Barrichello have showed, but fans were not pleased.
Ferrari kept paying him huge sums of money and he eventually became fabulously rich even by standards of F1 where most races recide in Principality of Monaco.
Schumacher won two more consecutive titles after this one. However, in 2005 and 2006 then young Fernando Alonso won twice. He done it with almost the very same team where Schumacher himself started. Since Schumacher, Ross Brawn and Nick Fry left Benetton, Renaut bought it and renamed it after themselves. They even brought back manager of the time Flavio Briatore, who found a new Schumacher like young driver, Fernando Alonso, who once again managed to win for the blue time.
For Schumacher it probably was almost like losing to the former self. However, Alonso and Renaut became champions not once but twice. Schumacher eventually announced his retirement at the end of 2006.
Schumacher returned to F1 in 2010 with Mercedes works team. However, at that time he was merely riding on his old-time reputation. He was not only in no shape to compete for championship, but he was also even much slower than his teammate Nico Rosberg. After three years Mercedes eventually replaced him with Lewis Hamilton.
Finally, Schumacher crashed while mountain skiing and is now in coma.
Lewis Hamilton
With some recearch I can write similar, but less dramatic story about how Hamilton himself devolved from an underdog into some sort of Silver Baron of Mercedes team. He too used to fight with Rosberg for every victory, until he finally became robber baron who wins without any real competition. He too eventually was dethroned by Max Verstappen.
My dad
Then in 2000s he was mostly sitting on the laurels but could still do various useful things to make life better. During the divorce I even chose to stay with him over my mom. My mom was useless for as long as I could remember. However, he was getting increasingly stupid and useless himself.
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