Sportsmanship in the US polls

CEBU - One lesson we people engaged in sports can learn from the recent presidential elections in the United States is accepting defeat graciously.

Republican candidate John McCain displayed excellent sportsmanship when shortly after the polls closed and seeing the Sen. Barrack Obama was going to win the presidency based on the media exit polls, he immediately conceded.

I wish we’d see the same in the Philippines and I am not talking about our elections only, but also in sports competitions.

How many times have you come across coaches who keep on complaining about poor officiating when their team would lose?

Having spent many years as a parent watching over my child play in team sports, I have seen very ugly unsportsmanlike behavior. Why can’t some coaches just tell the parents that we lost to a better team? Why do they have to raise hell over a non-call or maybe a wrong call that they’d blame for the loss?

Do you think their getting angry and their attitude towards the game are good for our children? 

While it is perfectly normal for us to get disappointed, if there are kids involved in the game, it would be best to control our emotions or else we send the children the wrong signals.

The same goes for parents. I remember that incident when a mother accosted a player of the opposing team, who accidentally or maybe intentionally hit her son during the game. It’s really hard to tell, but then I still believe it was wrong for the parent to get involved.

If you don’t want your child to get hit while playing, don’t let him or her take part in contact sports.

I believe that if we have a voice in the choice of coaches for the team of our children, let us pick one who can teach the child the right things not only in terms of skills in the game, but also the right attitude and proper behavior.

Many coaches have been excellent players during their prime, but their manner of handling the children might be bad for our kids. 

If you can’t choose the coach, then better make sure that you get to talk to your child and explain to him or her how things should be done or how a person should learn to act either in victory or defeat.

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The last round of the final leg of the Santa Lucia Golf Tour 2008 will be played today and hopefully at the end of the day, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club shall already be celebrating as overall champion.

The team pulled away in the second leg of the tournament played in Cebu last month, but while the lead appears insurmountable, nothing is really definite until the trophy is awarded.

The members of the club are however looking forward to a victory celebration when the team heads home tomorrow.

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MILESTONES: I’d like to wish my compadre and Alta Vista Golf and Country Club president Renato ‘Oly’ S. Dychangco, Jr. a belated happy birthday. Oly turned a year older yesterday.

Happy birthday greetings go to one of my long-time readers and supporter of my career as sportswriter, Wyndee Yncierto, who is celebrating her birthday today. Wyndee used to be one of the big fans of San Miguel Beer in the PBA when I met her and members of the group that were diehard Beermen fans back in the 1990s. (THE FREEMAN)

More power to you!