A Good Sport
Posted 01-19-2013 at 09:34 AM by KatieGal
On Wednesday evening I attended a sporting event... well, sort of. My boyfriend, Steve, played in a basketball game and I was one of a handful of spectators sitting in some bleachers. Steve is in some kind of recreational league. I think it might be a league for older guys because none of the players were particularly young. Steve is 52. Even though I do not know much about the game, I could tell that I was not watching high level basketball. Still, they were competing. Once or twice a referee’s call was criticized. A player was yelled at by his own teammate for making a mistake. But not everyone was competing in such an aggressive manner.
Early in the game a player scored against Steve and Steve complimented him on the shot. I think for a moment the opposing player might have thought that Steve’s praise was done sarcastically, but I know Steve and I knew he was being genuine. I think the other player finally figured that out.
A few minutes later Steve complimented another opposing player on a successful long pass. That opposing player smiled and thanked Steve. Later in the game Steve tripped and fell to the floor. Several players, some teammates, and some opposing players, rushed to help Steve to his feet and ask if he were okay and uninjured. Clearly he has earned a lot of respect.
Steve’s team lost by six or eight points, but the defeat was undetectable in Steve’ manner. He smiled and either shook the hands of the other team’s players, or patted them on the back. He was smiling the whole time. A minute later he went out of his way to say something positive to the referee.
Steve’s behavior during athletic competition reflects his overall personality. He will always put in his best effort, but at his core he is a lighthearted, humorous man who takes things in stride. Who he is as a person was out there for everyone to see during that basketball game.
The next evening, Thursday evening, Lance Armstrong gave an interview to Oprah. I did not see it but Armstrong was supposed to confess to taking performance-enhancing drugs. I read where he did a number of bad things to keep his sports image clean. Over the years Armstrong would proclaim people “liars” for speaking the truth concerning his illicit activities. Lance would call people ugly names in an effort to discredit them.
Lance Armstrong is a great athlete. In terms of pure athleticism, he makes my boyfriend look silly. But if you compare the two in terms of sporting character they are not remotely close. I wish Lance Armstrong could watch Steve on the basketball court. He would not learn a thing about how to play basketball, but he would learn plenty about style and decency both in sports and out, and that’s exactly where Lance Armstrong needs help; a lot of help.
Early in the game a player scored against Steve and Steve complimented him on the shot. I think for a moment the opposing player might have thought that Steve’s praise was done sarcastically, but I know Steve and I knew he was being genuine. I think the other player finally figured that out.
A few minutes later Steve complimented another opposing player on a successful long pass. That opposing player smiled and thanked Steve. Later in the game Steve tripped and fell to the floor. Several players, some teammates, and some opposing players, rushed to help Steve to his feet and ask if he were okay and uninjured. Clearly he has earned a lot of respect.
Steve’s team lost by six or eight points, but the defeat was undetectable in Steve’ manner. He smiled and either shook the hands of the other team’s players, or patted them on the back. He was smiling the whole time. A minute later he went out of his way to say something positive to the referee.
Steve’s behavior during athletic competition reflects his overall personality. He will always put in his best effort, but at his core he is a lighthearted, humorous man who takes things in stride. Who he is as a person was out there for everyone to see during that basketball game.
The next evening, Thursday evening, Lance Armstrong gave an interview to Oprah. I did not see it but Armstrong was supposed to confess to taking performance-enhancing drugs. I read where he did a number of bad things to keep his sports image clean. Over the years Armstrong would proclaim people “liars” for speaking the truth concerning his illicit activities. Lance would call people ugly names in an effort to discredit them.
Lance Armstrong is a great athlete. In terms of pure athleticism, he makes my boyfriend look silly. But if you compare the two in terms of sporting character they are not remotely close. I wish Lance Armstrong could watch Steve on the basketball court. He would not learn a thing about how to play basketball, but he would learn plenty about style and decency both in sports and out, and that’s exactly where Lance Armstrong needs help; a lot of help.
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