I LOVE TO WIN BUT...
Yes, I love to win, but not at any cost. And so I was concerned about the match between TEAM USA versus BELGIUM yesterday. My concern wasn't about the USA winning or losing. We'd already lost, if sportsmanship, respect and rules matter. I was concerned for gazillions of kids watching these games. What were they learning about sports and life?
My grandsons and I often text during games: Patriots/49ers, Red Sox/SFGiants and Celtics/Golden StateWarriors. But the World Cup brought the world together. Fun to cheer for the USA and for other countries. And then our President got in the mix to question a red card suspension. While the infraction that led to the red card is debatable to some, rules are rules. Judgements can be flawed. Strikes v.balls, off-sides, flagrant fouls, a fair catch, etc. So, the call isn't the issue.
So what is the issue? The way it was reversed. It's bad for sports. Frankly, you couldn't have chosen a better way to turn the match into WORLD v. USA. Can you imagine the pressure on the USA team? It would've been all on Belgium, if one of our star players was banned from playing. And we'd have been seen as every other country's team whose player, right or wrong, received a red card.
So, it seems to me, once you start messing with rules and laws at the highest governmental levels, it's no big deal to use your influence to impact a soccer match. As my grandson Luke texted," No Trump card allowed. Is wining without dignity even winning at all?" Then Luke added, "At least Norway is still in and we can cheer our little 'rumpe' off!"
So cheer for what really matters.
And do the Viking Row!
And may this be one of life's valuable lessons for athletes, coaches, parents, fans and Presidents. To be a good sport is a mark of character. So is cheating to win. There's a big difference between losing and being a loser.
Right?
6 Comments
RIGHT!!!! Oh my soul.
Well, you're an athlete, so I know this connects with you on so many levels, dear Wendy. Thanks for responding.
Now, ROW and cheer on Norway, unless you prefer England. Should be a great match either way.There's no Beckham to "Bend it like Beckham.". Fun movie from a long time ago.
I thought pretty much word for word what you wrote. Thank you for giving voice to what many most likely thought. God bless Jan Carlberg for always speaking her beautiful mind!
Peace to you
Thanks so much, dear Tina, for your encouragement. It's not easy , nor always safe, to speak up, but it's important to take some risks .However, like Ecclesiastes 3 states," there's a time to speak and a time to keep silent.." I pray for wisdom to know when to one or the other.
I totally agree, Jan. While I’m sorry the USA lost, I think it was best that it happened under the circumstances.
Yes, I felt sorry, too, dear Maggie. But like I wrote, I think it put tremendous pressure on the USA, and took it off Belgium. And Belgium outplayed us. I'm not fond of "life's valuable lessons" always, but hopefully, when I learn them, they instruct me to make better choices t. he next time. Now, time to ROW for NORWAY.