I'm feeling pretty good at the moment as I just witnessed our volleyball team at Cascade defeat Evergreen State in 5 games. It's win #5 against 17 losses, so any win is gratifying. As the struggle to find success in college athletics continues, I often reflect on my part in the struggle.
Our American culture puts such a premium on winning in sports, and I'm not sure how I feel about it. The goal is often not just to beat your opponent, but to humiliate them. What is my role in developing the character of the athletes I interact with? Is there an opportunity to be counter-cultural in our approach to sports?
I'll file this away for awhile, but hope to develop some concepts concerning this as the year progresses.
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2 comments:
Crongrats on the win. I'd be interested in seeing a stat on the W/L record of teams in their final home game of the season. It always seemed to me that something magical happened on that night and the Birds would come away with a win. Then the coach could spend the entire off season wondering why the success switch wasn't turned on earlier.
As far as your thoughts on nurturing competitors, I don't feel that teaching athletes to win or beat their opponents is bad. What I am interested in seeing is athletes who can win and not come off as jerks. I'm sure you've been beaten by teams that left a sour taste in your mouth. But, I'll wager that there are other times you were beaten but didn't feel like the victors did it out of spite or malice and in some cases they even seemed like nice people. That is the kind of winner I like to see. FWIW...
i grew up with "the wide world of sports," and ever since you posted this entry, i've been waiting for the follow-up, "the agony of defeat." not because i'm hoping for t-bird losses, but because i am incapable of hearing "the thrill of victory," without saying "the agony of defeat."
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