I have been thinking about this for a bit, but the prelude to the UT v. Vandy game this weekend has, to me, made this a more pertinent topic.
I have seen some posts where they allege that Franklin was classless going for the last score against Kentucky. I have read others who insist that Jones should run up the score on Vandy if given the option (I fall squarely in the latter category).
It strikes me as odd the way we look at sportsmanship. My thought is that both teams volunteered to play a game. A game's point, inherently, is to determine a winner, or a loser. A loser is no less a loser, if they lose by 1 point late in the game, or fall by 45 in the first half and never gain any ground.
Why then, is it poor form to continue scoring on an opponent? Shouldn't the paradigm be that when you step between these lines, that I am going to give you all I have, until either you quit or time runs out? I expect the same from you in return. Fight fair but don't expect quarter. I will ask for none.
Many say that this idea of "sportsmanship" is to keep from humiliating your opponent. I have two things to say to that, 1) any competitor who loses is going to be hurt, that is the nature of competition and 2) isn't it more humiliating to know that your opponent didn't even have to show you their capabilities because you weren't good enough to see them?
Isn't it more respectful of your opponent, if you are the superior team, to never let off the gas? That shows that you are capable enough to not be pitied. Being shown pity should be the MOST humiliating thing a competitor will ever face, not just getting beat by a superior foe badly.
Similarly stupefying is when I see an indication of coaches who complain to their opponent about running up the score. I would say that if you are getting beat badly whether you are out-talented or out-coached, you have the ability to simply give up. Wave the white flag, call the game. Conversely, you should never expect your opponent to give up or pull back just because your team isn't competing.
TL;DR
Sportsmanship doesn't mean treating your opponent like children, it means playing them as hard as you can until time runs out or they give up. Thoughts?
I have seen some posts where they allege that Franklin was classless going for the last score against Kentucky. I have read others who insist that Jones should run up the score on Vandy if given the option (I fall squarely in the latter category).
It strikes me as odd the way we look at sportsmanship. My thought is that both teams volunteered to play a game. A game's point, inherently, is to determine a winner, or a loser. A loser is no less a loser, if they lose by 1 point late in the game, or fall by 45 in the first half and never gain any ground.
Why then, is it poor form to continue scoring on an opponent? Shouldn't the paradigm be that when you step between these lines, that I am going to give you all I have, until either you quit or time runs out? I expect the same from you in return. Fight fair but don't expect quarter. I will ask for none.
Many say that this idea of "sportsmanship" is to keep from humiliating your opponent. I have two things to say to that, 1) any competitor who loses is going to be hurt, that is the nature of competition and 2) isn't it more humiliating to know that your opponent didn't even have to show you their capabilities because you weren't good enough to see them?
Isn't it more respectful of your opponent, if you are the superior team, to never let off the gas? That shows that you are capable enough to not be pitied. Being shown pity should be the MOST humiliating thing a competitor will ever face, not just getting beat by a superior foe badly.
Similarly stupefying is when I see an indication of coaches who complain to their opponent about running up the score. I would say that if you are getting beat badly whether you are out-talented or out-coached, you have the ability to simply give up. Wave the white flag, call the game. Conversely, you should never expect your opponent to give up or pull back just because your team isn't competing.
TL;DR
Sportsmanship doesn't mean treating your opponent like children, it means playing them as hard as you can until time runs out or they give up. Thoughts?
