The other night I saw one of the most disgusting displays of behavior I think I may have ever witnessed. Players acting like street corner thugs. A coach swearing openly at an official.High school game, city park ...no not even the NBA. The women's NCAA. The female coach was swearing at a female ref. Poor sportsmanship does not begin to cover it. The night before in the men's tournament a player jumped on a table beating his chest at the end of the game. Before he had congratulated his teammates, let alone the opposing team.
Last fall at a family gathering we were watching a college football game. One of my nephews is a huge fan of one of the teams. You know the type, never went there, but has the vanity plates and all the rest of the crap.A celebration penalty brought him to his feet yelling"Bull s**t!".I pointed out the the rule had been broken, "Stupid rule" was his reply.
"But it's still the rule",
"And it's still stupid!".
"So following your logic, if you think the rule against killing someone is stupid, you may kill someone if you wish."
"That's different!"
"Is it?"
"Nobody's that stupid!"
"Stupid seems to be your answer to everything, I wonder why that is?"
Our respective wives told us each to knock it off. I maturely replied "He started it."I only see the guy once or twice a year and it is never the highlight of my day.If I have a point I guess that it's that sports were once supposed to teach many of life's good attributes,now not so much.And like so many things, you ain't gonna change it back. OK I feel better now.
Oh my. What does the future hold with 1. this kind of behavior/unsportsmanship and 2. the affirmation of it by some. So sad as the younger children emulate what they see. I agree with you about sports and the life lessons that can be gleaned from participating. I love competition and all that goes with it, but it is disheartening to see how it is disrespected . . . xoxo
ReplyDeleteHow I agree! Maybe sports where you compete alone- marathons, diving- can keep sports within the realm of dignity and basic courtesy... maybe.
ReplyDeleteJames it starts, I am sure, with the parents at school sports!
ReplyDeleteRecently, we were watching our local school cricket final, the behaviour of some of the 'adults' (parents) was appalling, abusing the ref, the umpire, the other players and in one case the other parents, yelling at their kids at half time.
Considering the players were only six and seven years of age I really hate to think what they and their parents will be like when they are playing senior sports!!!!!
I would love to print this and secretly have it tucked inside the game program at every sporting event in the country (world?) until all have read it.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more!!
Wishing you and yours a very pleasant weekend! :)
Ruth
It started when the public (us) began making heros of those that started an incident...great television, and it fed and fed and fed and now folks are disappointed if they pay those prices and don't get some "action." Golf is the only sport left with gentlemen who are not in jail, don't curse at each other and need no refs.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad to see what is happening in the sport industry, especially with young children & really their parents. One time at our son's baseball game, a father came drunk and was yelling at the coach & his son. It was so embarrising for his son. I felt so badly for the boy. They asked the father to leave.
ReplyDeleteThings really need to change.
Susan
Just blow it off.... You can't win an arguement with "a knuckle-dragging Neanderthal"!! We have one who lives across the street from us. I avoid him. This is a result of parents giving kids too much. Too much freedom, money & everything else.
ReplyDeleteHave a Peaceful Evening!
Marilyn
It's a shame isn't it? Money and fame are far more important than the spirit of the game.
ReplyDeleteHello & Good Evening James,
ReplyDeleteIf you want to comprehend the reasoning for why sports are the way that they are today there is an exceptional book written by E. digby Baltzell superbly titled: Sporting Gentlemen.
This book explains the development of the sport, from its high-class Anglo-American origins to its devolution into a crass, in-your-face money-making scheme. Along the way one sees the departure of the WASPs ( Baltzell invented that term ) who started the game, and the accompanying departure of the genteel sportsman-like attitude they originally insisted upon. The WASPs were replaced first by lower-class American and British whites, then by persons from all over the globe, of many hues. Along the way, as Prof. Baltzell explains, the game's original unwritten code of good behavior was tossed aside, as players opted instead to become tennis court litigators, disputing every close call and whining when things didn't go their way.
I cannot stand showboating, bad behavior and the ilk in sports. I always hope the teams I cheer for - and in most cases they do - take the high road. I go get worked up watching a game now and then, but I keep the language clean. I just tend to get a little loud. In fact, during the UK/UCONN game, my daughter who was very sleepy said, "Thanks for keeping quiet, mommy." Uh, better work on that, huh?
ReplyDeleteAMEN TO THIS POST!! i am appalled by the poor sportsmanship by many in today's world. what's worse is media coverage of sports events is infinitely greater than it used to be, so it is more likely that kids who look up to athletes will see their displays!
ReplyDeleteI remember (many, many years ago) the behavior of parents at Little League games. It was appalling.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, pro sports is loaded with this kind of behavior. And it's all shown on TV. The kids can't miss it and no doubt think it's OK.
Sorry about you nephew' attitude. (love that you said: you started it. Made me smile in sympathy.) And more sorry that he is family and you'll have to tolerate him from time to time. We all have someone in our family that makes us close our eyes, bite our tongues, searching for patience.
Civility... Where has it gone?
ReplyDeleteI hoped over from A Place to Dwell where I saw your comment on living in Aiken. Beautiful place I am blessed to call home...
That 'ain't gonna change it back' just makes me so sad. The stupid remark, seems to be the response du jour these days. If they don't agree, it's stupid. There use to be a ton of good sportsmanship in the day and good valuable life lessons to learn. Now...not so much / :
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always James. Always great food for thought.