Why should sportsmanship be encouraged?

[acerimmer]

It seems in our sports today, the concept of good sportsmanship has been lost. While winning at all costs and poor sportsmanship may be condoned and even promoted in professional sports, this does not mean it is the proper way for players to behave. Whether we like it or not, sportsmanship in sports is a direct reflection of our own ethics in real life. Sportsmanship like ethics concerns both the character and the actions of a player. The image you project as a player is a product of your character. Good sportsmanship is not just what you do on the gamesfield, it is hopefully the way you conduct your life both on and off the field. In the same way, unsportsmanlike behaviour on the field is probably an indication of your off the field conduct. Unsportsmanlike behaviour -- acts that are unfair, dishonest, disrespectful or against the rules - are unsportsmanlike because they are unethical. If you are unethical in sports, can you be ethical in the other areas of your life - your business dealings, your treatment of others, your family?

Here are a few rules that should be encouraged!

The Golden Rule in Sport: Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.

The rules of any game must be regarded as mutual agreements, the spirit or letter of which no one should try to evade or break.

No advantages are to be sought over others, except the advantage of superior skill.

Do not speak to your opponents except in friendship.

Be gracious winners - always have our opponents in mind – be proud of our accomplishments but do not insult our opponents by "gloating" or grandstanding.

Be gracious losers - In sport it will not always go the way you want – get over it and try to learn from the loss.

Never attempt to intimidate our opponents by foul play or trash talk. Let your determination and skill be your voice.

It is always better to not play, than to play in an unsporting way.

It is always better to lose in a sporting way than to win in an unsporting way.

[gentleben]

Sounds good to me.

[giovedi]

My friend, I truely appreciate what you are trying to do here, but I'm afraid your words will fall on deaf ears by those you're trying to reach.
The latest example, which probably inspired you to open this topic gives proof to it.

But there's still hope, we can see occasionally some good examples of sportsmanship...(I think)...otherwise I'd have the SIS pulled you out of your house in the middle of the night and let you hang by your balls... for reaching my flag just 1 or 2 steps before I could have reached yours- not to forget the crisps that were off and the warm beer you served during the game to manipulate the outcome...
_________________
Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter.
Try Again. Fail again. Fail better!

[stratego]

ace,

i agree to your first posting, but last one was against the rules and condition of gravon. we had to remove it.
(you find them at bottom homepage)

stratego

[acerimmer]

That stinks stratego!

What I said was very valid.

Protecting these unsporting acts will cause nothing but problems.