TORRENS TALK
Recently, an opposing lacrosse coach informed me they were short players. This coach only had 11 players instead of 12. When I readily agreed to play down as well, she was surprised.
I said how can we possibly teach good sportsmanship and expect kids to learn it if we do not do it? Having played her other games with teams who did not play “down,” she was very appreciative of our accommodation.
I was very proud of my team’s response when I told them we were playing 11, not 12, for the game. They all looked at me as if why would we do anything less. There was no need for any explanation. I know they all knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of not having a “level playing field” and I was very glad they took the high road without question or complaint.
I only wish there were more instances of that behavior and response not only in sports, but also in other parts of our lives. Sadly, we seem to have left that idea of good sportsmanship and all that it represents behind.
One need only look at the amount of cheating, either through drugs or skirting the rules, that goes on at college and professional level sports to know the messages of fair play and honesty seem antiquated notions. I remember years ago my orthopedic surgeon laughing at my naiveté when I expressed outrage at the revelations of doping by various sports figures as they attempted to best records in their sports. His comment was it goes on all the time and it is a small wonder more are not caught.
Given that even high school teams are unwilling to let go of any edge in order to get a win, it should not be surprising the upper levels of sports show this behavior. It is really hypocritical of adults to constantly preach good sportsmanship and then not display it when it counts.
Yet, that is precisely what happens. We tell the youth to play by the rules. That doing so is the only proper way to act. Then, when it is our turn, if it suits us, we ignore the rules. After all, the rules are really meant for other folks, not us.
So, we get college coaches who clearly find the NCAA rules too hard to live by as they keep breaking them despite repeated sanctions. We get players like Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Mark McGuire who felt that only drugs could let them perform at the level they needed. And, we get teams like Chief Sealth who had no problem ignoring the WIAA rules about recruiting high school players and residency so they could continue to win ball games.
They were all more focused on getting what they wanted than on what was right. Unfortunately, that behavior sends the wrong message. Youth are impressionable and having these folks in positions where they influence young minds makes this much worse. This role may not be what these folks seek, but it comes with the territory. They should know that “do as I say, not as I do” does not work.
Of course, these same issues go beyond sports. Witness the various disasters that have befallen the U.S. economy. There were many people in positions of power who chose to play fast and easy with the rules, including getting oversight undone. Then, when things went badly, they seem perplexed at the anger directed at them.
Had the financial sector not been so greedy, so willing to cut corners and ignore prudent decision-making, many people would not be facing personal financial crises. They were the ones in the position to know some people should not have gotten credit or home loans, but they gave it to them anyway because it meant money in their pocket. They did not want to play by any rules and now everyone is paying the price.
Good sportsmanship is not just about playing fairly in a game. It is about a way of living one’s life and extending that principle in all directions. It means recognizing there is a right way and a wrong way to bring about what one wants. Achieving things the right way is much sweeter and more meaningful than getting it the fast, dirty way. My team played the game the right way and more power to them.
Val Torrens covers local issues for the CK Reporter and North Kitsap Herald.
