There are few experiences more exhilarating than attending a live sporting event. The most appealing of these is basketball, especially at the college level and even at the high school level. For nail-biting glory, there's nothing like a game of wire hoops. And in the case of an upset, nowhere else can you experience the beauty of an upset so intimately, at least if you're the underdog, in the literal heat of the moment.
This is not a call for the sports world to shy away from acknowledging that fans stand for Phanatic. Fanatic stands for all our great loyalty to the team we love. But recent events have made it clear that it's time to temper the joy of fanaticism with some good old sportsmanship.
One of the most admirable maxims in sports (and life) is that you should win with grace and humility and lose with dignity. It's a great life lesson and explains why one of the most moving parts of a sporting event is the handshake or hug between the winning and losing players and coaches after a hard-fought battle. It is a sign of mutual respect that is important to the spirit of competition.
But with hundreds of fans crowding in front of you, trampling everything in your way, it's hard to win with dignity and humility and lose with dignity. It's happening more and more, not just in major championships, but also in upsets and simple rival wins. In short, these celebrations have gotten out of hand.
There are ways to celebrate wins and upsets and ways not to. Two recent incidents provide objective lessons on what not to do.
The first one happened a few weeks ago, shortly after No. 18 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Iowa State, 100-92, in women's basketball. As Iowa State star Kaitlyn Clark jogged off the court, a fan running toward her court collided with her, sending Clark tumbling to the floor. Clark was visibly shaken and remained there for a moment until Iowa State team members responded. She and she managed to stand up.
Clark, who had maintained his dignity despite the loss, told reporters after the incident that he was unharmed, but that it was “a little scary” to have been “punched” by the fans, adding, “They caused me some pretty serious injuries.” “I might have knocked the wind out of me,” he admitted. It came from me,” only to add, “It comes with the territory.”
But is it? Or even better, should that?
Duke University basketball star Kyle Filipowski doesn't think so. He and his fellow No. 8 Blue Devils were making their way to the locker room, fresh off an 83-79 upset at Wake Forest, as they weaved their way through the throng of fans packed onto the court. Video of the scene shows the 7-foot player falling in a knee-to-knee collision with one of the Wake Forest fans. The Duke forward was sent off, losing his balance and fumbling for support from coaches and teammates while spraining his ankle. The fan who hit him continued running.
Since when did athletic competition inflict the harshest physical sacrifices? rear What's the final whistle? Since when are the aftermath of these games allowed to look like epic battle scenes from movies like 1917 or Band of Brothers, with soldiers being carried off the field by their comrades? Did it happen?
Wake Forest officials issued a statement saying they had put in place “postgame protocols to protect the visiting team and personnel,” but acknowledged that “we clearly have to improve.”
I think so?
Two leadership lessons immediately come to mind. First of all, don't try to cover your butt by assuring others that you had a plan when you fail to follow through. If you look at the scene of the Wake Forest mob, what you see is not a flawed plan, but a complete and spectacular collapse. A plan without the means to implement it is worthless.
Next, teach students about the norms of competition in life and sports. It's fun to be a fan, but it's not always about us.
Tell me about proportionality and how hard-fought victories can provide rewards in and of themselves without the need for fan participation trophies in the form of courtroom raids.
Tell us about the time-honoured virtues of grace and humility in victory and dignity in defeat.
Why not start by teaching them how to give a great standing ovation?
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