SPORTSMANSHIP
Coincidentally, several magazines and newspapers I read have recently discussed sportsmanship. My dictionary defines a sportsman as one who exhibits qualities especially esteemed in those who engage in sports. Included in these qualities are fairness, courtesy, good temper, being a cheerful loser, etc. A magazine defines sportsmanship to be the reflection in one's manners of the transcendent importance of the game, the notion that the game is more important than you are. Pete Sampras is offered as an example of a sportsman, as one whose pride and dignity preclude any show of bad manners. A national newspaper editorializes against the rudeness (indeed, the violence and hostility) which seems to be creeping into various sports, urges more attention to sportsmanship.
I know of no one who would argue that the qualities included in the definition of sportsmanship are anything but worthwhile. I applaud this attention to sportsmanship, I value men and women who exhibit sportsmanship, I try to approach the sports and games I play with a sportsmanlike attitude. I also believe that there is a decline in sportsmanship among some of the best players, some of the people who should serve as models of sportsmanship. Without attacking anyone by name, I'm sure we can all think of incidents of rude, boorish, angry, hostile, even violent, behavior taking place at sporting events of the highest level.
However, the issue of sportsmanship is not simply an issue of sports and games. The qualities we value in sports are qualities we should be seeking in all aspects of life. Fairness and courtesy, good temper, looking to something more important than self, are qualities we need every day, in our workplace, on the highways and sidewalks, at home. We need to be courteous to everyone we encounter, we need to be fair in all of our dealings, we need to treat our behavior toward others as more important than our momentary or petty concerns.
Let's be good sports. Let's behave in a sportsmanlike manner. But let's not limit this behavior to sports and games. Let's apply sportsmanship to every aspect of our lives. Remember, as with all good qualities, it costs us nothing, it will make things better for others and, ultimately, we will be better off for it.
2-19-01