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In our world, you grow up from a young age seeing adults and kids being competitive in sports, spelling bees, work, driving, pageants, The Olympics, school, contests…and the list goes on and on!

Along with being competitive, you should also have good sportsmanship, but how many soccer games and baseball games for your kids have you been to where the parents were the ones starting fights and showing poor sportsmanship. Not a good example for our kids! I think it has gotten worse since I was a kid.

My sons are grown now, but they were taught to have respect for the other team or respect period for people in general! It seems like everyone has to be the BEST, and that losing is not an option.

Bad sportsmanship?

I am a football fan, but I do not condone the players trying to injure another player in trying to win a game. Why does the pitcher, obviously throw the ball at the player, getting the whole bench out on the field in a brawl!

It is just a game! Even the fans get in on it by throwing beer, food, snowballs, bottles, and whatever else is available at the opposing team! In hockey, fights have become part of the game, which the fans look forward to. Does the word “win”, mean at all costs!

Prestige vs. working hard

Students are cheating on exams and SAT tests, and recently celebrity parents thought they were above being ethical and following the rules, by paying someone to get their kids in certain schools, and not on their own merit!

Does prestige mean more than working and studying hard to see if you can accomplish this on your own? It seems like everyone thinks they are “entitled” to whatever they want.

Entitlement or perseverance

Where is the competitiveness in what is going on? Where is the grit, blood, and sweat that it takes to be a champion, winner, and the best at what you do, and not have it handed to you on a silver platter?

Where are the Rocky’s, Michael Oher’s, and Kurt Warner’s, who faced obstacles and weren’t the first choice in their sport, and in Michael Oher’s case, his mom had alcohol and drug addiction, and his dad was murdered. He was raised by his adoptive family and became a great football player.

They showed that with perseverance, will, and hard work, you can make it to the top. You might get knocked down, but they got back up! They didn’t feel entitled, and earned their glory! This was true competitiveness!

Win or lose do teams support each other?

So do teams, win or lose, support each other? You do see athletes who don’t like each other on the field or court but are good friends.

There is one athlete who you might not agree with, but I see Lebron James, always supporting his teammates, in getting the spotlight. I found Peyton Manning always encouraging and bringing out the best in his teammates.

There also seems to be a lot of egos and personalities, where they think their value is worth more than another player. You might be good on one team, but when you go to a totally different team, the chemistry and cohesiveness might not be there.

Many times these players are humbled when it doesn’t work out! Support seems to come when it benefits the player, more than being a good sportsman.

Closing thoughts

Can athletes be both? Yes, I think so, and the US Women’s Soccer Team proved that this year.

They all were competitive, but did not feel threatened by each other, and were supportive of the player who made a great defensive play or kicks a goal in. To me, they were true competitors who supported their teammates, and respected their opponents, to become the World Cup Champions!

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See you soon, Denise

Posts may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases and collect a small commission at no cost to you. This helps my blog to keep going. Thank you! For more info, read my disclosure policy.

Below are books on Sports and Character to read or share with your kids!