^TM

Week 11

Question: Making The Effort To Win   Column 061407-A

Dear Coach Bob,
In professional baseball, sportsmanship and integrity have recently been tested. How do you see it affecting youth sports? -M.A, Northfield

Dear M.A,
The latest episode in the Big Apple (A-Rod’s distraction from a fly ball) brings to mind legendary Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi’s famous quote, "Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing." According to David Maraniss, in his book, When Pride Still Mattered - A Life of Vince Lombardi, Coach Lombardi’s true intention was not to imply that winning is everything, but rather, "it is the only thing worth striving for." In other words--making the effort to win is what really matters.

So at what point are sportsmanship and integrity jeopardized by a "win at all costs" attitude? I find it quite amusing that Little League Baseball and Youth Softball organizations (which are made up of people like you and me) do not tolerate certain actions on the field (especially where safety is an issue) but Major League Baseball does. It appears that when money is at stake, the unwritten rules (concerning integrity and sportsmanship) change. To keep things in proper perspective, questionable behavior by pro athletes is best viewed within the context of professional sports, which is, after all, their livelihood. The professional athlete's motives are not the same as those of the little leaguer and should probably not be compared as such. The problem, as I see it, is that over time, as the stakes have risen exponentially, unethical behavior has followed suit. I can only imagine Vince Lombardi turning in his grave over the lack of sportsmanship displayed by some of our professional athletes today.

That being said, all of us--coaches, players, parents, and even fans--have to take ownership of our behavior. At a Major League Baseball ballpark recently, I witnessed fans purposefully interfering with the play on a foul ball--even to the point of throwing objects. If we expect our professional athletes (and our little leaguers) to act with pride and integrity, then we should hold ourselves to the same standards.

Before I became a professional coach I was a teacher in the classroom for 22 years. During this time I observed that while a majority of the students were well behaved, the troubled ones tended to demand the most time and attention. The same holds true in sports. Let's not forget that the majority of athletes, both professional and amateur, are excellent sportsmen and women, and play with a high level of integrity. We need to celebrate those who already are acting appropriately and continue to hold those accountable who are not. When coaches instill integrity in their players, whether you win or lose on the scoreboard, you win. Money can be the spoiler to this statement but it doesn’t have to be. When athletes and fans alike are all striving to win with integrity, then good things--like state championships--happen. Congratulations to Northfield High School Baseball Coach Frank Pecora and his team for winning the Vermont Div. III Championship! GO MARAUDERS!  -Coach Bob-

End !

      ASKCOACHBOB -  E M A I LS and READERS COMMENTS  

Attention Readers !

We're hearing great things from Coach Bob about readers up there in Northfield, VT. stopping him on the street and stores talking positively about his columns in the Northfield News Paper and here on the website. To both those who read his columns in the Northfield News and online here around the web we would like to hear from you.

Please send us your comments, see the section below here (MAILINGS & Other Stuff) to find out how to email coach bob.

Thanks again for those positive responses from the street, keep them coming. Write-Us Soon !

   Regards
Doc Dingley