We must learn!

We learn how to win.  Everyone learns in different ways, but we all learn how to win.

We must also learn how to LOSE! (especially with dignity).

Nobody and I mean NOBODY wins every time.  Even the most “successful” humans have failed to win at some point or another.  We as a race (I’m talking the human race, not just a specific “race” of people) need to do better at teaching our children that losing is a part of the game..…it’s inevitable, especially with sports.

Which brings me to the crux of the motivation to pen this piece:

I witnessed some of the most absurd, embarrassing and childlike behavior that I’ve EVER experienced as an official…and the behavior had absolutely NOTHING to do with the “children” on the court playing.  The behavior was displayed by a group of so called adults/parents there to watch their “children” play a GAME!!

As an official, I do my very best NOT to take anything on the court personally, but I couldn’t help but to innately feel a slight bit “embarrassed” for some of the kids out on that court.  It’s painful to watch some of those that “look like me”, act as if Ignorance is an expectation when things aren’t going right….. as if them acting a damn fool is going to somehow change the outcome of the contest by making the ball go in the basket, or miraculously teaching the kid how to dribble all of a sudden… because they are in the stands shouting at the top of their (and please forgive me for this) probably weed filled lungs, that the coach “aint this”, “aint that”, put so & so back in the game, etc!!

There are certain stereotypes out there that would lead some to believe, that this type of behavior is “expected” by people that “look like me”.   Let me add that it’s a terrible representation of the 99% of the people that “look like me”, that do not, and REFUSE to perpetrate the stereotype that “we don’t know how to act in public, or better yet.. OUT of the hood”.     When they go/come to their young child’s game high/blunted/whatever (and ON SUNDAY), and makes a scene that embarrasses their child, and who knows how many of the others sitting around them…..  that is  EXACTLY what they are doing……Validating THAT stereotype!!  

So your team is losing, and you want to take your child off of the court during the game and leave??  What is this teaching the child…that when things go wrong, quit and bail out??  Sports at a young age can serve as an excellent metaphor for life, and can teach a child HOW TO LOSE, but yet still be proud of the effort of his/her teammates for giving their best.   It can also serve as the motivation to work harder on the desired craft, to put in the work to get better….JUST like “real life”.   But NO, you want to take your child off the court, give the coaches a piece of your mind because you want YOUR child to play more, and not give two cents about the REAL meaning of the GAME and the spirit of competition.

It’s painfully obvious that some lose the game…..even before the game begins!!

 

Simply.....We must learn!!