Comments on: Be a Good Sport: A Guide to Sportmanship

By: Alexander Connell

Alexander Connell — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:22:05 +0000

Well, I think that in the pros at least, there are times when it’s appropriate to heckle a player. Not for having an off night but in the cases where he’s clearly not trying.

That’s an insult not just to the fans who’ve paid good money to support the team but to the other players who ARE working hard.

I’m a fan of the Colorado Rapids (soccer) and we used to have an forward who expected the ball to be placed at his feet every time. If it was even slightly ahead of him he just stopped running and let the defense clear it away to safety. Then he would wave his arms and berate the team mate who’d just busted his hump putting the attacking move together.

Who knows how many games the team lost because he was too lazy to try and win the ball.

So you’re darn skippy he got booed and to everyone’s relief, was gone in a year.

I’ll also boo a player who’s diving, pretending to be hurt to gain an advantage or otherwise obviously cheating.

Otherwise, great post.

By: Hans Verhoog

Hans Verhoog — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:06:18 +0000

Dear Brett,

Thanks for sticking up for in-game officials! A recent development in the Netherlands revolves around an icehockey referee who went beserk after being heckled all game long by a “fan”.

There seems to be less respect for in-game officials from fans, who apparently think that it’s okay to repeatedly heckle a bunch of volunteers who get a small game fee (even in our pro-league) to go out and officiate the game that would otherwise not be played at all.

By: juleigha

juleigha — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 20:42:14 +0000

thanks for this. it gave me some great guidlines for the essay im writting. it made me think about what sportsmanship really is. its not being the best its being humble. this is great. thanks again. may God bless you always and as we near the Christmas season may God watch ove you and yours. Merry Christmas

By: Don’t Be That Guy: The Taxonomy of Lousy Male Friends | The Art of Manliness

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 02:54:15 +0000

[...] 119, and your friends ARE keeping track of your score whether they admit it or not. Show a little sportsmanship and integrity. If you lose to your friends at Halo, pick-up basketball, tennis, scrabble, bocce, [...]

By: Paul Smith

Paul Smith — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:08:17 +0000

Great Stuff Brett & Kate and subsequent comments. Have you any specific sportsmanship stories I can add to my collection of short sportsmanship stories? I’m particularly looking for ice hockey, baseball, basket ball, American football although I also welcome any sportsmanship stories. I’ve started a 10 year campaign to get sporstmanship back on the agenda of kids, coaches and commentators in Ireland, England and hopefully spread beyond at http://www.GreatMomentsOfSportsmanship.com .

Here’s a challenge to determine how committed to sportsmanship
http://www.greatmomentsofsportsmanship.com/?p=290#more-290

Best wishes
Paul Smith (author)

By: thepeople

thepeople — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 22:21:23 +0000

I played in an over 30 hockey league where things got out of hand concerning retaliation.

It ended with a guy getting slammed into the boards and breaking several ribs – he was carted off in an ambulance.

if you work for a living and play in a league for ‘fun’, the only thing that matters is that you get to participate.

Also, if you are a player coach, don’t email your teamates quotes of general Patton to fire them up for the game while you and they are supposed to be working.

By: rich

rich — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:30:19 +0000

Sometimes its acceptable IMO to be “unsportsmanlike.” What Im talking about is instances like what happened to Ian Kinsler the other day. He was buzzed high and inside in the 7th inning and then was pegged in the head in the 9th by the same pitcher. In that instance, if he had done it, I would have had no problem with him charging the mound. A pitcher expects these kinds of things when he constantly picking a player to come inside on and realizes it is inherent. Also when a manager comes out and shouts and screams and hoots and hollers with an umpire, it can sometimes benefit the team if its timed right to fire a squad up. Or a hockey fight for instance.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 02:32:05 +0000

I think you forgot the most important point: don’t care.

It amazes me how much people (men, mostly) invest in a competition. It becomes a divine war over ultimate domination. To me, it’s always just a game.

By: Craig

Craig — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 08:46:54 +0000

Nice article.

Another point of respect for fellow fans is to be considerate of others’ view of the game. My father taught me to never leave my seat during the middle of a play, and if I happen to be walking through the stands, stop and duck down during the play then get up and move quickly back to my seat during pauses in the play.

By: John

John — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:08:25 +0000

“Respect your fellow fans” — absolutely!! They are guests in your city, so act like a good host! Make visitors feel welcome, not threatened. They have actually helped to support your team by paying for a ticket (and they’ve driven who knows how many hours to get there). If you feel you have to do something to uphold the honor of your city, do it by showing the visitors how honorable the residents are.