Sportsmanship

What Is Good Sportsmanship?

February 6, 2017

On the heels of the Super Bowl, I'm compelled to ask the question, "What is Good Sportmanship?"

Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. (Wikipedia)

What would it be to treat each other with respect outside of a sporting event? Let's say at work? Or at school? Or in politics? 

Good citizenship?

I love a good come-from-behind game as well as the next person. And I know that in the heat of the competition tempers can flair. But no matter what, we MUST be nice to each other. 

Kids telling their friends that one of their classmates is retarded should never happen. 

Football players taking the attitude that they are entitled to special treatment should never happen. 

Physicians belittling medical students should never happen. 

Politicians calling each other names should never happen. 

People shunning Christians because of their faith when they accept other religions should never happen. 

But it does. 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We must teach our children and our grandchildren and our co-workers that this is the way to be. 

We must model this at the grocery store, at restaurants, at church, at work, and driving down the road. 

Good sportsmanship and good citizenship should be the norm and not the exception in this great land. 

Lord, help us remember that our attitudes reflect on you. May we ALWAYS treat each other with respect no matter what.