SPORTS it out!

Sports have become a part and a parcel of our cultural lives. Indeed, it seems nowadays that the perception of good sportsmanship is gradually vanishing. How true it is – winning at all costs while poor sportsmanship is condoned and even promoted in professional sports, this doesn’t mean it is the apposite way for athletes to behave.

But what really is sportsmanship? Is it just showing esteem for ourselves, our adversaries, or the people we play with and against as we’d like to be treated ourselves? Is it just following the rules of the game, accepting the game’s upshot sans complaints and excuses? Or else, is it just enough for us to say that as long as we shun thrash-talking to our colleagues and opponents, we are confirming at the same time a true awareness of the game? Does it mean that sportsmanship is just simply all about these things?

Aptly saying, I would say that you probably got an idea of what you have in your befuddling mind but sportsmanship certainly delineates as playing fair as the "golden rule" of sports which means, treating opponents with respect that takes maturity and guts if you expect it yourself. For some, it bluntly means acknowledging triumph sans degrading opponents, being quietly proud of success, and letting success speak for themselves. It is a direct reflection of our own ethics in real life that certainly concerns not only for one’s temperament but also for the deeds of an athlete, as well. In the same way, it also means not having a "win at any cost" attitude because if we do, we are likely unethical in the sense that we never show much love for sport Thus, only our priorities and our personal interest to find contentment are our concern. I know that everyone feels great when he wins but bear in mind that in real-life competitions, you may not constantly win, but you can at least learn something from losing, too.

If we only know the essence of good sportsmanship, maybe we should all have an evocative season for our life’s remaining chapters and possibly, just possibly, our lives may be a little better.