Transcending the bounds of one individual sport, a universal tug-of-war exists in the sporting world: Do we want the best team to win the championship, or do we want the thrilling storyline of an underdog taking down the season's top teams?
Is it boring that the Miami Heat won two straight championships? Or is it fair that the best team deservedly won?
The 2007 New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl we all remember, but was that a fitting end to the season? The season series was tied 1-1 after the Patriots beat the Giants in week 17.
We are currently awaiting a Super Bowl between the league's two heavy-weights, the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
Last year was hardly the same picture. There certainly should be value on winning at the right time, but to say last year's Baltimore Ravens (a No. 4 seed) were the best team in the league seems wrong.
In 2011-'12, Alabama lost to Louisiana State University in the regular season and beat them in the national championship. History will only remember Alabama.
In the National Football League and National Basketball Association, the disturbing trend is that teams can cruise quite lackadaisically and then just "turn it on" going into the postseason.
There are merits to having the underdog or the heavy-weight succeeding. But why can't we have both?
Soccer is the world's most popular sport because it has it all. Its structured league play intertwined with exhilarating cup tournaments enable David and Goliath to coexist.
Look no further than last season for proof.
If you want top dogs, there was no fiercer team than Bayern Munich last season. They won their league, their domestic tournament and the UEFA Champions League.
There seems to be a recent trend, but dominance in European soccer like Bayern Munich winning the "treble" is historically rare.
The only other teams to match this feat are Manchester United with young guns David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes (1998-'99), Barcelona in Pep Guardiola's first campaign as head coach and one of Lionel Messi's Player of the Year award-winning seasons (2008-'09) and Inter Milan with "the special one" head coach José Mourinho and midfield standout Wesley Sneijder.
That being said, even dominance like this involves narrow wins in big games. United won their Champions League final against Bayern thanks to not one, but two goals in injury time from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjær to win 2-1.
Over a decade later Bayern would get their own last-minute magic from Arjen Robben, who's 89th minute goal launched Munich to the top of Europe over league rivals Borussia Dortmund.
Teams like that will satisfy the "best team should win" fans, but there are plenty left from last year for those who love seeing underdogs knock down the elite amidst supposed cake-walk to a title.
It was a season of turmoil for Manchester City, who's saving grace was to finish with the FA Cup title after giving the league championship back to Manchester United. All that was needed was a win at Wembley Stadium against Wigan Athletic, who were dealing with relegation from the English Premier League.
But that's why they play the game.
After losing a combined 3-0 against Manchester City in their two league matchups, Wigan and 81st minute-substitute Ben Watson showed England and the world the Cinderella spirit that makes anyone (but Manchester City fans) feel warm inside.
Watson headed home the winner in injury time and left Goliath down with one hand on the trophy.
Moving over to Spain, we can see the same thing.
Statistically, Atlético Madrid is no David to Real Madrid's Goliath. They are a talented team who have finished third, fifth, seventh, ninth, fourth and fourth again in La Liga dating back to 2008. But history tells us a different story.
Since being promoted back into the top Spanish division in 2002-'03, Atlético did not beat Real Madrid in the league, not once (until this season). From 2002 to Spring of 2013, Real Madrid had seventeen wins, five draws and no losses against their capital-city rivals.
Real Madrid was in an eerily similar position to Manchester City last season. They won the championship in 2011-'12, then lost the title to their arch-rival (Barcelona) in a season filled with team bickering and a coach who is no longer with the club.
In Spain's domestic cup, the Copa del Rey, the Madrid sides met in the championship. After going down a goal early, Atlético responded and the game was a deadlock heading into extra time.
There it happened. In the ninth minute of extra time, João Miranda scored the winner and propelled the perennial Madrid bottom-dwellers to win the Copa del Rey and become kings of the city.
Atlético gained momentum then to be where they are now, tied for top of La Liga with Barcelona and one point ahead of Real Madrid.
Some sports are filled with too too much domination and some see the opposite which can render the beginning of the season relatively useless.
Nothing is more fair than playing each team in the league twice, home and away. The best team should win, and almost every time, they do. But for your dosage of David teams, look no further than domestic tournaments.
Sports fans love their storylines, so why not enjoy both David and Goliath getting their moments?
Do you have a preference for seeing the best team win? Or do you prefer the underdog? Let Jonah know by emailing beleckis@wisc.edu.
