Why do we not honor effort anymore?

Matt Chinchilla rushed to the head of an American Airlines Center line for NBA Finals tickets Sunday after his number was called during a lottery. "This is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," he said.

Does anyone have a problem with this picture and this story?

Here is another little snipit for you to ponder as well and let us see if you see the same issue that I do.

Earlier Sunday, more than 1,000 fans were assembled at the American Airlines Center box office for the ticket lottery. Stephen Loloi, 20, of Plano, had been there all night."I was here at 10:30; I was one of the first 20 or so people in line," he said. "Nothing's been open, so I haven't been able to eat or drink anything."

First of all I think the people are crazy for standing in line for hours and sometimes days to buy tickets for anything. The longest that I have been in line to support a team or a band has been maybe max 2 hours. For those here in Dallas do you recall the woman that sat outside of Ikea for 7 days to get FREE furniture for her home? Yes she was married and had multiple kids. Yes it would be great to have all new furniture but to put that before your family for a week that is just crazy to me. Anyone else?

But that is not my Fume Focus it is on the "fairness that seems to be prevalant in society today. The Mavs as most of you know beat the Phoenix Suns to enter the NBA Championship game. This is where people stopped life for hours to wait in line to purchase tickets for the games vs the Miami Heat. As one portion read there is one Stephen Loloi who was in the top 20 of liners waiting to purchase tix. It does not actually say where in line he ended up in line to actually purchase tix.

The prob I have is that they do this whole Lottery system with tickets these days. So for those sitting in line for hours maybe days can end up at the end of the line while the last person allowed into the lottery can then be first. I have never been a part of these lotteries for tickets but I still do not agree with it.

OK I do not agree with sitting inline for anything for 12 hours either but his effort should be rewarded with buying tickets in the order that he was there. He put in the effort to get there and sit there. When did we loose first come first served?

Take a look back at the attached photo and see Mr. Matt Chincilla run past the throngs of people who were there before him. What if the Ikea lady sat there for a week only to be put in a lottery system like this and end up getting nothing? We are now and have been for years being "fair" by punishing those that deserve the reward of the effort.

One side note on Mr. MC on his statement "this being the best thing that has ever happened to me". Come on dude experience life and ultimately experience the Lord. Life will be better than getting a free pass of everyone before you to buy a pair of tickets to a Basketball game of which you can watch on TV.

What is the purpose of this lottery system? Can anyone explain this to me?