I hope, dear readers, that you were able to watch the semi-final of the Olympics singles tennis match today between Roger Federer and Juan Carlos del Potro. It was magnificent.
The two men were evenly matched. Federer said yesterday that it would be a difficult and hard-fought match, and it was.
Del Potro took the first set, 6-3. He deserved it fully. Federer took the second 7-6 in a tiebreak.
But, it was the third set that proved what true champions both men are. Federer won in a marathon, 19-17, and will play in the final, aiming for the only major trophy he lacks.
But, I want mention something else, not the winning and losing, but the comportment of the two players. They were polite, respectful of the game they play and of each other. They were humble, whether in victory or loss.
There were no shouts with open mouths and teeth more reminiscent of great apes giving alpha cries than of men who pretend to be gentlemen. Federer allowed himself a small hidden fist at his side, away from del Potro at the end.
And del Potro took his defeat with grace.
Instead of prancing around like animals, they held each other across the net and let tears form in their eyes.
If you saw the last swimming feat of Michael Phelps today, you saw much the same respect and humility. He waved his arms to the crowd after winning his 22nd Olympic medal, 17 of them gold. He was not brash or arrogant. He was the picture of an athlete who appreciates how hard it is to win and how often a matter of micro-seconds separates medallists from non-medallists.
Later tonight, the Polish gold medal winner in the shot putt competition showed the same restraint and humility as he crossed the track to collect his national flag and show it to the stadium crowd. No grimaces, no shouts, no sense of being the only one who counted. He hugged his opponents in the competition and looked only happy, not overbearing.
Who decided that champions should be animalistic and strut, caring for no one and nothing but their own victory and prowess?
I don’t know that answer to that question.
But, today, we were blessed with the victories, and defeats, of men proud of their tradition as athletes, competing for the love of their game and not for the chance to be offensively arrogant.
You have hit the nail on the head. How much more enjoyable it is to watch an athlete display his skills with grace and dignity, rather than vulgarity and embarrassing actions. I don't watch sporting events to see how publicly obnoxious an athletic can be. I won't buy a tee shirt that displays an individual or team that conducts themselves in such a manner.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it was Vince Lombardi that told his players after you score a touchdown, drop the ball, act like you belong there (in the end zone) and leave the field.
Go to a rock concert today. It's no longer about the musical ability of the singer or group. It's about how down right lewd and publicly bad they act. Our parents use to think Elvis was bad - an angel compared to today's artist. And "artist" may be ill used.
Bad habits, bad language, bad manners come from their upbringing not from the skill level, I think. Another strike against the lack of positive parenting skills during their younger, formative years.
You're both wrong...it's for the media and the notoriety and that means more money.
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