It is pretty logical to say that youth sports are all about learning fundamentals, having fun and being taught about sportsmanship. Results and winning are not typically the focus. So when pro athletes are labeled as “bad sports” by commentators,
It is pretty logical to say that youth sports are all about learning fundamentals, having fun and being taught about sportsmanship. Results and winning are not typically the focus.
So when pro athletes are labeled as “bad sports” by commentators, analysts, or just the general public, they are usually talking about the negative influence their actions could have on kids.
In my opinion, we need to make distinctions between pros and amateurs when labeling actions of poor sportsmanship.
When Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic knocked LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the NBA playoffs last week, James left the court without acknowledging his opponents and then failed to attend the postgame press conference, which the NBA normally requires him to do.
The incident created a mini-uproar about the superstar’s priorities and lack of sportsmanship. Some suggested that it showed his immaturity and a general sense of disrespect for his peers and the league itself. While I agree that the $25,000 fine the commissioner levied on James for not speaking to the media was appropriate and that he certainly shouldn’t have been given special treatment due to his stardom, I’m not one to say that his swift exit from the court as the confetti fell from the rafters was totally negative.
Should he have given a quick handshake to Orlando, or at least to Howard, a fellow USA olympian? Probably. I think a brief congratulations would have been appropriate.
But as a fan of pro sports, one of my biggest pet peeves is seeing athletes take losing so lightly. Or teams being overly congenial with each other after an important game. Had James stayed on the court, flashed a smile to Orlando, gone and shaken each of their hands and then left the court without a care in the world, I honestly would have begun to doubt whether he is really concerned about becoming a great player.
Now, I’ll be the first to say that the reason I play sports is because it’s fun. That can’t be overlooked. (Of course, I’m currently writing this with a broken nose and black eye I sustained in a basketball game last week. That part, not so much fun.)
But once a gifted athlete reaches a pro level, the highest possible level of their profession, they need to care about winning. It’s no longer a league where learning is the primary objective. It’s no longer a stepping stone and there isn’t always next year.
This year, James became a complete player, dominating both ends of the court. He improved his jump shot and was always hustling more than anybody else. He led his team to the league’s best record and then had one of the greatest statistical and most memorable postseasons in recent history.
He’s also, by all accounts, a terrific teammate. His Cleveland cohorts all love having him around, on and off the court.
So when it all came to an end with the Cavs’ dream unfulfilled, he took it hard. Yes, he showed some immaturity. However much it hurt, he should have answered questions like a professional and said a quick “good luck” to the victors.
But what his reaction did show me is that his desire is not fabricated. He wants to win more than anything. There are some athletes who have had similar abilities, but not that obvious desire.
In professions that literally keep score, ambition and graciousness will usually come at one another’s expense. The key is to find the appropriate balance and stay as close to that as often as possible.
