3 Jun, 2009
Talk to the Hand!
The greatest basketball player of today's generation walked off the court dejected after his teams loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday night. That loss knocked Lebron's Cavaliers out of the playoffs. Although it was a little shocking that the team with the leagues best record lost the series, it was even more shocking how its 'bigger than life star' handled defeat. King James looked more like a pouting Prince after the loss. It is customary that players will shake hands at the end of a contest in a display of good sportsmanship. Lebron James walked off the court in silence.
“It’s hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them,” James said Sunday after the team returned to Cleveland. “I’m a winner. It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them. That doesn’t make sense to me. I’m a competitor.”
Lebron stated that he was not being a poor sport but his actions beg the question - "What is sportsmanship?" Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. This way they honor each other and the game they play whether they win or lose. We could easily extend this line of thinking to other areas of life: games, grades, and other activities.
Show proper respect to everyone.
Philippians 2:3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Showing sportsmanship is just one way the Christian honors and respects others. One can compete by the rules and play hard (thus honoring the game) in any athletic endeavor. In fact, it is the only way to play and derive satisfaction out of any game. No one wants to play a game that the other team or players is disinterested in or a game that the other team or players cheats to win. After the contest (and during) it is important to show respect to the other team whether in victory or defeat.
- Think of a time that you were not very sportsmanlike and ask God's forgiveness.
- Think about how you could of acted differently and pray for the strength to do so.
- Find a friend that has beaten you in some competition and congratulate them for their effort.
- If you can't find someone you have competed with, encourage someone who has succeeded where you might not have in any endeavor.
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