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We enjoy sports because the lessons we learn are applicable to many aspects of life. You can learn the value of hard work, the ability of a group to accomplish more as a unit than the individual parts could dream, and many other life lessons. These lessons are what I value about my experiences with team and individual sports growing up.
One of the most important lessons I learned was sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is the understanding that the game, your teammates, and your opponents are afforded your utmost respect. You respect the game by playing within the rules of the game, and by understanding that it is just a contest; no more, no less. You respect your teammates by being prepared and by giving your best effort to support their best effort. You respect your opponent by recognizing that they have worked as hard as you to win, and by understanding that they are simply on the other side of the contest.
I was taught sportsmanship by nearly every coach that I was blessed to play for. After every game, we gave a cheer to the other team and shook their hands congratulating them on their effort and for the good game. After every wrestling match, win or lose you shook the hands of your opponent. This was understood and not questioned.
It was not required that you like your opponent, heck you may even have hated them, but it was understood that you would offer your congratulations to your opponent, and that you did not express those feelings in a public manner. Anyone who violated this was chastised and sometimes punished, by their own coach. In essence it was a warriors code.
Sadly, I see sportsmanship dying slowly. Athletics requires that you respect your opponents. As a coach or athlete , it is an unwritten code that you should not denigrate, disparage, or attempt to show up your opponent. Kyle Whittingham ignored this when he tried an onside kick in 2007. Max Hall forgot this with his post game tirade.
As fans, we are a part of the sporting event. We are contributors to the game and atmosphere. We can be passionate, wearing the emotion on our sleeve; down and blue when our favorite team loses, or elated and overjoyed when they win. At the same time, sportsmanship should dictate, that as a fan, we respect the opposing team and their fans. We do not need to like them, care for their opinions, etc, but we should respect them.
Fans are losing the essence of sportsmanship. Interactions with opposing fans are more likely to be antagonistic, with the goal to needle, goad, "smack down", and embarrass. The progression of the internet is a partial culprit. People feel more protected and anonymous. They feel more unencumbered and more empowered to say things that they would not say in public, their rhetoric becomes more vitriolic, and the mob mentality fuels the persons ego to push it further. Long lost are the days when McBride and LaVell can poke each other in fun with 34-31 and 3-1. The fact that Rose and Boylen carry each other in such esteem, is a refreshing example.
The BYu-Utah rivalry has become more antagonistic and nasty over the last decade. I rarely post on Uf.net because I can't stomach the ichor. Similarly, CB is the opposite side of the same coin. I wandered here and was pleasantly surprised. A site where the members reminded me of the real world, where you can be passionate and opinionated, but at the same time you were respected as long as you are respectful. I even PM'd JL soon after I arrived thanking his efforts calling CUF "an oasis in the desert".
I try to carry myself on the internet as I do in person. I value and respect sportsmanship, therefore I offer it to everyone who will accept it. I also become frustrated and upset when I see a lack of respect and sportsmanship on the board. I hope this gives some background to my "rivalry dread". That is all.
One of the most important lessons I learned was sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is the understanding that the game, your teammates, and your opponents are afforded your utmost respect. You respect the game by playing within the rules of the game, and by understanding that it is just a contest; no more, no less. You respect your teammates by being prepared and by giving your best effort to support their best effort. You respect your opponent by recognizing that they have worked as hard as you to win, and by understanding that they are simply on the other side of the contest.
I was taught sportsmanship by nearly every coach that I was blessed to play for. After every game, we gave a cheer to the other team and shook their hands congratulating them on their effort and for the good game. After every wrestling match, win or lose you shook the hands of your opponent. This was understood and not questioned.
It was not required that you like your opponent, heck you may even have hated them, but it was understood that you would offer your congratulations to your opponent, and that you did not express those feelings in a public manner. Anyone who violated this was chastised and sometimes punished, by their own coach. In essence it was a warriors code.
Sadly, I see sportsmanship dying slowly. Athletics requires that you respect your opponents. As a coach or athlete , it is an unwritten code that you should not denigrate, disparage, or attempt to show up your opponent. Kyle Whittingham ignored this when he tried an onside kick in 2007. Max Hall forgot this with his post game tirade.
As fans, we are a part of the sporting event. We are contributors to the game and atmosphere. We can be passionate, wearing the emotion on our sleeve; down and blue when our favorite team loses, or elated and overjoyed when they win. At the same time, sportsmanship should dictate, that as a fan, we respect the opposing team and their fans. We do not need to like them, care for their opinions, etc, but we should respect them.
Fans are losing the essence of sportsmanship. Interactions with opposing fans are more likely to be antagonistic, with the goal to needle, goad, "smack down", and embarrass. The progression of the internet is a partial culprit. People feel more protected and anonymous. They feel more unencumbered and more empowered to say things that they would not say in public, their rhetoric becomes more vitriolic, and the mob mentality fuels the persons ego to push it further. Long lost are the days when McBride and LaVell can poke each other in fun with 34-31 and 3-1. The fact that Rose and Boylen carry each other in such esteem, is a refreshing example.
The BYu-Utah rivalry has become more antagonistic and nasty over the last decade. I rarely post on Uf.net because I can't stomach the ichor. Similarly, CB is the opposite side of the same coin. I wandered here and was pleasantly surprised. A site where the members reminded me of the real world, where you can be passionate and opinionated, but at the same time you were respected as long as you are respectful. I even PM'd JL soon after I arrived thanking his efforts calling CUF "an oasis in the desert".
I try to carry myself on the internet as I do in person. I value and respect sportsmanship, therefore I offer it to everyone who will accept it. I also become frustrated and upset when I see a lack of respect and sportsmanship on the board. I hope this gives some background to my "rivalry dread". That is all.
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