Good Sportsmanship is important in more than just sport

I woke up this morning to read that, surprise surprise, there had been kicky round ball violence in France between the bad-teeth-warm-lager-drinking Pommes and the even-more-arrogant-when-they-are-at-home Froggies outside a warm beer and cold pork pie distribution center (read Pub) as a prelude to the Euro-kicky-round-ball contest. This crap has been going on for years and is the main reason for me not liking the most popular bad-acting game in the world, as it is known. I am not sure why such a highly skilled sport (or so I have been told - does that make Irish dancing the most highly skilled dance technique as they just use their feet also?) has such a preponderance of ass-hat supporters but at a guess it is something to do with the lack of sportsmanship on the field that we see so much of. The bad acting, pratfalling and  general douchebaggery that has infested the game at the highest level takes away from the skill shown by some of the greats of kicky round ball.

Many sports have had questionable sportsmanship moments. The Hand of God moment is infamous in kicky round ball - undoubtedly the Argies were still pissed at the Pommes at the time after the little dust up over a very strategic sheep farm island. The thieving mongrels will never live down bowling underarm to win a cricket game, the Welsh still swear (and they might be a touch right) that a dive by Andy Haden cost the game against the All Blacks in 78 and everyone remembers the worldwide outrage after the winner of the Waikikamukau (pronounced why-kick-a-moo-cow) under 12 years old (Boys) tiddlywinks championship was discovered to have been using an undersized Chinese tiddly. 

Now to the title of this blog and how I am going to tie this all into something mildly relevant. I started this week with a thought (doesn't happen often) about how important good sportsmanship is, particularly in watching sports. As much as I love watching the Yellow Wannabies get thumped in the game they play in heaven (read Aussie Rugby team lose) I make it a point not to boo them and I am trying to instill that with my kids. Applauding good play by the opposition in a game (and it is only a game after all, no matter what I think) goes hand in hand with congratulating the winning team. Lining up after a hard fought victory or loss and shaking the hand of the opponent is the definition of Sportsmanship. Back in the day players used to exchange jerseys, shake hands and have a beer. Yes you are allowed to bathe in victory but being an arrogant winner is often worse than being a sore loser.

We must remember that part of good sportsmanship is about giving it all on the field (or in the stands or watching from the couch) then leaving it there. Good sportsmanship in the stands or from the fans is usually a direct reflection of good sportsmanship shown on the field (or track or court or ice). Probably one of the greatest reflections of this seems to be in the X Games where competitors cheer the bigger jumps and also commiserate the bad bail outs. This form of camaraderie (from what I can see) seems to infect the stands where the crowd are all there having fun. I hope that I am as good a supporter of the other people in my workplace as the low pant wearing tattooed skaters are to the people they compete and work with on a regular basis. There is a lot we can learn from sportspeople about dedication and competition but we can also learn what being a good sport is, and what it is not. 

As usual this blog was written without the assistance of any factual or relevant research, rather just an ejaculation of words onto this electronic paper replacement. The journey you have just been on might appear slightly odd and scary to you - imagine what it is like writing this stuff and realizing that this is coming from my brain - and this isn't even the weird shit :)

So work hard, play hard and earn your inspiration

Happy Poets Day