The whiny thing worked for me. I just love a sensitive guy!

Besides, during the game you see the whining going away, as Tidus grows up right before our eyes. Compare his whining when Auron told him that Jecht was Sin in the beginning, to no whining, just acceptance when Bahamut's fayth told him that to kill Sin Tidus would have to die.

Blitzball is my favorite side quest game!