The game is on the line. The next play will be decisive. 4th and goal, 2 seconds on the clock. Alternatively, bases loaded, 2 out, bottom of the 9th and you’re on the mound or at the plate. Insert similar situations from other sports/games/real life situations here. If you accept the ball, your action will determine the outcome. You’ll be the hero…or the goat. If you turn it down, you’ll essentially be a spectator, and your fate is in the hands of another. Do you want the ball or not?
I was 100% certain the OP was going to be:
You, sir, have disappointed me.
Gimme the god-damned ball and get the fuck out of my way, boy!
You, sir, have me confused with someone else. I do uber-drama, absurdity, and vaguely hallucinogenic riffs on obscure points of pop/scifi culture. The Department of Kittehs, Pups, and Associated Frivolity is down the hall, third door on the left.
My philosophy is, if they throw me the ball, then I’m probably qualified to take it and I’ll run with it. If they give someone else the ball, that’s fine too. Either way I’m there for my team.
I voted give me the ball, because that’s that’s what I’d be thinking. I wouldn’t get all Terrell Owens about it, though.
The second option didn’t convey strongly enough how much I want the ball.
If it’s meant literally:
If anyone has ever seen me do ***anything ***with a ball, they wouldn’t have thrown it to me in the first place.
If it’s a metaphor, then I’ve already got the ball, and I’m not sharing it.
Hell yes, throw me that ball! It’s always better to be the actor in your own fate rather than passively let something happen to you. Whether the poll is metaphoric or not, my answer is the same.
Spectator of course. If he scores we all share the glory of course (it was a team effort, after all, no I in team), and if he misses we call him an incompetent moron and explain at length how much better we could have done if only they passed to us. Win/win.
Oh, put me in, Coach - I’m ready to play today;
Put me in, Coach - I’m ready to play today;
Look at me, I can be Centerfield.
I picked the fourth option because when I played football, I was the center. So no, I don’t want the ball, but I want you to take it and follow me. I’ll clear a path for you.
I assumed this was metaphorical and not literal, or else like Lord Ashtar I’d point out that depending on the sport, my preferred position may or may not be in a situation to “take the ball” for a given play. And I’m way past any athletic prime anyway at age 40.
But in general, assuming it’s in an area where I am competent enough to expect a good chance of success, I’d rather be responsible for my own failure or glory than depend on somebody else for it.
Definitely metaphorical. I played guard on offense and either D line or LB, depending on which defensive set we were in.
I picked the first option, based on the assumption I’m one of the best-qualified players to make that particular play on the team. If someone else is way better than me, they should go in; I don’t want to pitch if I’m the designated hitter. But if it’s my forte, put me in.
I think I might’ve misinterpreted the metaphor; I took it as an analog for leadership rather than self-motivation. I’ll follow existing leadership as long as A) there is any and B) it isn’t stupid, but will take charge if either of those conditions is false. That seemed equivalent to the second option.
If there’s actually a defined task at hand, though, I’d just as soon do it myself. So, in retrospect, change my vote to option one.
There was a Super Bowl game sometime in the past few years, starring a Manning that wasn’t from IN. (I’m a little fuzzy on the details - football ain’t my sport.) There was some sort of high pressure situation, where the Manning in question had to do something heroic in the last few minutes in order for his team to win. The announcers said something along the lines of, “This is the sort of situation that everyone [every kid? every quarterback? I don’t remember] dreams of!” I thought that was nuts - it seemed like a nightmare situation to me. I would much rather be a spectator.
I answered “No, I’d rather someone else get it” but a better answer for me would be “No, I’d rather not be out on the field in the first place”. I know my capabilities and I’m no athlete.
If, as others are suggesting, the question is supposed to be metaphorical, then I’d change my answer.
It would depend upon whether I’m any good at whateveritis or not.
If it’s something I can do well, certainly I’ll take a shot at it.
If it’s something I’m weak on then no, I don’t want to ruin it for everyone else.
I hope I’ve understood your football analogy correctly. 
The question boils down to, do you prefer to determine your own fate, or leave it in the hands of another?
I was an outfielder and always hoped they would hit it to me.
If someone was up with 2 out in the ninth, i wanted it to be me. I was good.