Is AUTHOR wrong in the post ? POST : OK, so trying to explain this goofy situation in the least-jargony way possible: 

I'm currently rowing crew in college. It's a good bit of fun to get out on the river when the weather's nice, but I'm not incredibly into the whole competition part of it (meaning up to now I haven't much cared about being the best on the team or anything). The friend I joined up with is much more into the sport aspect of it; he trains super hard and has big regatta aspirations down the line. 

So last week we had seat-races on the ergs to determine who we'd train with to get ready for the spring season. For the freshman the coveted spots are the four dudes who make 1st Boat (four guys with the fastest times). I wouldn't normally have been that invested but the cox (person who sits in stern and calls out the stroke) is a girl that I'm really sweet on. Making 1st boat would mean we'd be spending a lot of time together. Not at all unusual for a cox and a rower to couple up in the season.  

So during the seat race I'm next to my buddy on the ergs, and near the end of the race we're pretty close so I put the power on and edge him out. Now I'm rowing 1st Boat and he's not. He tries to be a good sport but he's appropriately pissed, mostly because he knows I don't care as much about it as he does. 

I won't lie; I feel like a real dickhead at the moment. Me and him aren't really on speaking terms currently (he's steaming), and I'm considering the fact that perhaps I've fucked up a friendship over something super petty. 

ON THE OTHER HAND: I'm faster than he is. Arguably we've got a better team for it. Does the reason even matter? Am I an enormous asshole or is that just life?  