A poor sport

[daveleau]

I grew up playing tennis tournaments. Once, I almost lost my best friend in a doubles match. No, he was not sniped by a guy with a itchy trigger finger, nor was he struck with a fit of epileptic seizures... I called a close ball in when it was in. He was upset, tried to reverse my call and say I did not have a good view and tried to make every excuse in the world. In essence, he was a bad sport. He would do anything to win and would make any excuse for losing.

The reason I bring this up is because I see the same traits in two American tennis players. Both Serena and Venus Williams have tried to do everything they can to psyche out their opponents, which is of course totally fine. It is when you have to stoop to making excuses for losses that I find that a person knows nothing about sportsmanship. Today Serena stated after her loss to Capriati that she had been 'sick for four days'. What a load of bull! She is just making more excuses for losing. Every time they lose they have some excuse! They even tried to play the race card in one of their losses saying fans were yelling racial slurs that only her father and the girls could hear!

I say, who cares if they are American. We should not support these players until they learn how to act and realize they live in the most priveledged country in the world!

[/rant]

Sorry, they have really turned my stomach from the beginning with their shenanegans.

Dave

[justy]

Hehe, Dave,

Second place is the first LOSER.

Joe King, I think there is possibly more at stake, than just the pride of winning the match. Sport, is no longer sport, its a business. If you lose, you lose all the royalities, through advertising etc. These people are under extreme pressure. Some people can deal with that, some re-act in different ways.

Just my thoughts, Justy.

[shocksyde]

i played in rec leagues until i was about 16 and i was always sickened by the sore losers. gimme a frickin break!

also, i would like to thank you on your use of the word "shenanegan". hehe.

shock

[OuTpaTienT]

McEnroe used his poor sportmanship for years to gain notoriaty, and we, as scociety in a sense condoned it by allowing him to get away with it. So, what do ya expect? They learned that it's an acceptable way to get attention and fame.

[Graham]

I have an eleven year old son, I try to get him to do his best at everything (he is bright, but no genius), it is a very fine line between that and a 'win at all costs' attitude.
Here in the UK, at primary school (5-11yrs), they do not have competitive sports days! (mustn't have winners and loosers), how in hell is that going to help them when they get into the real world?
Perhaps we are sometimes too pushy with our kids to the point of frightening them, always expecting them to win, and telling them things like (as Justy said), 'Second place is the first LOSER', this could explain the Williams' excuses, and even some of the drug usage.
The Olympic maxim might make some sense after all.

G

[bobcat]

Poor sport. HA wait till you enroll your kid in pee-wee football etc. Parents almost kill the refs. Get in your face. Just about ready to kill anyone who does not believe their kid is the best!