Ted Turner, a captain who could only have come from America

Winning was the only thing

In 1899, the British grocery magnate Sir Thomas Lipton tried to win back the most coveted trophy in sports for his country. His yacht Shamrock faced off against Columbia, which was defending the America’s Cup on behalf of the New York Yacht Club. Lipton lost all three races.

In 1901, Lipton’s Shamrock II challenged Columbia again and lost all three races.

In 1903, his Shamrock III lost all three races against a new American yacht.

In 1920, Lipton’s Shamrock IV won twice before losing the final three races.

In 1930, Lipton’s Shamrock V lost every race against the U.S. contender.

Despite five successive defeats, the self-made multimillionaire from Glasgow was contemplating a sixth shortly before he died in 1931. Lipton, whose tea brand survives to this day, handled his defeats with grace, earning the admiration and sympathy of Americans — so much so that they raised a fund which gifted him a spectacular gold trophy by way of consolation.

Lipton never gave in to the temptation to bad-mouth hi…