I love sports; I guess that is obvious since I have spent my entire life around them. I love the competition, love people striving to beat the opponent, to be the best they can be. I even love what lessons are learned from losing. Sports is great because people take their bodies to limits that they didn't think imaginable and there is no feeling quite like that if you haven't experienced it before. But the downside of sports has become way too clear in the past month.A former mentor of mind used to say that people love to judge the losers and then at the same time tear down the winners all in hopes of making themselves feel better. We call that the "Fellowship of the Miserable." You can't turn on any electronic device right now without seeing a story about Jerry Sandusky of Penn State or Bernie Fine of Syracuse. People are quick to judge immoral acts but Americans have taken it further and placed blame on their more well-renown bosses who should have done more to stop their behavior. We judge those people for not doing more because we would expect more from ourselves if we were in that situation; however most of us have never been in that position, so it is difficult to know how we would react. It is easy when people have been caught doing wrong to tear them down even more. And it seems it is just as easy when those teams are losing. A month ago I listened to a talk radio show host rave on and on about a local college football coach who had his team at 8-0 and ranked in the top ten. The other day I listened as that SAME host questioned the ability of the SAME coach, only now his team has lost 3 out of 4 after losing to its rival. I just hoped people didn't break any ankles as they jumped off that college's bandwagon. But we are all guilty of judging too quickly. Most of us don't know Jerry Sandusky, Joe Paterno, Bernie Fine, or Jim Boeheim, but we are quick to give an opinion on what they should have done or shouldn't have done. Most college football fans don't spend even 5 minutes watching practice of the team they criticize (I mean cheer for) on Saturday afternoons.
It is not just about the losers and the immoral, however. The winners are brought down as well. Tim Tebow is just as much in the news these days as Jerry Sandusky. Tebow has led the 1-4 Denver Broncos to a 6-1 record since becoming the starting quarterback. Yet, most people argue he can't play in the NFL, can't throw the ball well enough, and that his early success is just luck. Many Americans, again, take it further and despise Tebow because he is so devout and bold in his Christian faith. Can't we just simply enjoy this remarkable young man and be happy that success (even if might be temporary) on the football field in the NFL has come his way? And can't we look at Joe Paterno and Jim Boeheim as men in deep strain and pain about actions of their assistant coaches? We don't need to tear them down anymore than we need to tear down Tim Tebow. We are taking sports down the wrong path.
I was reminded even on a personal level of the "Fellowship of the Miserable" recently. Our men's basketball team took the 4th ranked NCAA Division II team in the nation into overtime in its first game of the season. I didn't hear one word from any local media inquiring about the game. But a few days later when two staff members of ours resigned, I received repeated messages from a local reporter who wanted the story. Really? I thought the games were the story! At least, that's why I started playing sports at a young age and made it my profession. Sports is about the student-athletes, the games and the pursuit of being one's best. Wouldn't it be "remarkable" if we never forgot that?
**Erskine AD Mark Peeler posts a new blog on the first Monday of each month**
