OT - big deal or not? Sportmanship @ Ohio HS track meet
Is this a big deal or not? Some apparently are reacting like it is; the key participant doesn't seem to think so. Girls' state champinship track meet, one girl helps another to the finish line (both were out of contention at that point -- but the helper had just won the state 1600 championhip a couple hours earlier). As a dad of three budding athletes, I actually found this touching. I think this is how I'd want my kids to respond. I think. Or, is the point, they were both going to be the two last-place runners, so its No Big Deal?
I guess I can also point out, it IS that state down south, apparently they arent ALL raised by Tressel and Pryor.
Credit where credit is due, we can blame Pryor on Pennsylvania.
Yeah but Ohio isn't exactly the land of class and sportmenship either
I don't see a problem with it at all... I think it was a decent act and the kind of thing we usually hope to see from kids. Why there is a controversy here is beyond me.
There is no controversy. The girl did the right thing and she's being lauded for it.
when people act like humans, other humans get excited and post to MGoBlog.
Also- I'd like to propose an immediate binding resolution that henceforth any topic that is also a topic on "Fox and Friends" is hereby prohibited from being posted to the MGoBoard.
It's hard to take you seriously when I know, deep down, there is only thing that could ever make you happy: the complete and utter demise of every other human being on this planet.
At least when that happens you will FINALLY have time to read!
Finally someone who understands me !
Eh, stuff like this happens more often than people think. Doesn't make it any more or less of a great display of sportsmanship, but whatever.
I guess it's make a post about any article that exists in the world time.
If the article has the word "Ohio" in it, it'll likely show up as a topic on mgoblog.
You sayin' were obsessed with Ohio?
/--Hits F5--checks CNN for Ohio topics
/checks Pryors Twitter
/checks RSS feed
/--Hits F5--on 11W and Bucknuts on quad display computer so that I may note every topic.
/reminds self to finish coding program that auto posts Ohio topics to Mgoblog.
This is really nice, I enjoy reading about this type of thing far more than what is normally out there. Usually you are reading about the athletes being big time jerks/criminals etc... This is what sportsmanship is about, I would be very proud of that young lady if I were her Dad.
Can I get you a kleenex or a "world's greatest dad" mug?
It was an honest question.
I don't think you've made enough posts registering your disgust with this topic yet.
Ok here goes another then:
So mineral leases are apparently giving a boost to rurual Ohioans....I say this is an outrage because Ohio can go to hell!... what do you guys think? Also look at that loser wearing an OSU shirt! I bet him and Tressel are buds because all Ohio people are bad.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/us/mineral-leases-give-boost-to-rural…
Yawn.
to live up to your name
That he should have concluded his post with "Come at me bro!"
When you have become a father (I am assuming you are not but could be wrong) you see actions in other kids differently. This girl did a very nice thing, it was completely unselfish which in the world of sports makes it stand out. I don't need a kleenex (I have that mug already) but I am not afraid of cheering on a competitor that is doing a good thing.
If I was this girls dad I'd ground her because no daughter of mine is going to be hanging out with losers.
That girl could teach a thing or two to the jackhole HS track and field coach who got an opposing pole vaulter disqualified in order to win a meet. The pole vaulter's offense? She was wearing a friendship bracelet.
CHEATERS!
It shouldn't be a big deal... but because people are so selfish these days, such an act of kindness and selflessness is rare , and thus a big deal. Most adults could learn a thing or two from her.
I'm curious, if the girl had just finished the race and not helped the other girl (who certainly would have been in no actual danger w/o this girl's help) would you consider her selfish? I think its great she did a nice thing for another participant, but the problem I have with the reaction to this story in general is people acting as if anyone that doesn't help carry opponents over finish lines is selfish. Its just a HS track race.
I know I'm about to get blasted for this, but I don't see how this really relates to sportsmanship. I see this as a kind act, but not one I would define as "conduct of fairness, respect for ones opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing".
Also, I will say that I would not have done the same during one of my races. I can see calling for medical attention or even giving an encouraging word, but I don't think I would ever stop during a race, let alone push someone over the line to beat me.
Neg away if you must, I can see my post isn't really in line with the tenor of this thread.
God forbid you actually respond to the OP with a real answer instead of berating the OP for posting an OT sports topic during the offseason . . . You should be negged into Bolivian for that.
Kidding aside, I agree with you. As a father like the OP, I would feel extremely proud of my kid if he/she did something like the girl in Ohio. But I think, in this day and age when everything is about winning, that girl would be in the very small minority of high schoolers that would do something like she did. She far exceeded the values of sportsmanship and actually showed that there are kind and caring people out there that put others ahead of themselves. I think stories like these are great for the Board (in the offseason) because the offset all the on-topic threads about athletes getting arrested, etc.
Yawwwn...
The way you would act in this situation is moot; I don't think this was a morally right or wrong decision on her part. But, and I realize this is arguing a petty thing, don't her actions line up exactly with the definition of sportsmanship you gave? It wouldn't have necessarily been unfair for her to run past the girl, but she definitely showed respect and graciousness in losing.
The part about how I would act was put up on account of everyone above talking about their desired reactions from their children. I agree that the action was morally ambiguous, but the tone of a lot of this discussion seems to be "she's a good person because of this action" which could easily be construed as "this is the way a good person should act".
I disagree about sportsmanship: it wouldn't have been unfair at all to run past the girl (it's well within the rules to pass an opponent at a track meet) and people don't seem to be applauding her for graciousness in losing, rather her help for a fallen opponent. For that reason I can see a case for respect, but doesn't the following more closely describe what took place...A kind act: "arising from or characterized by sympathy or forbearance"?
It was a great thing to do. Does it make Vogel a great person? No, personally, I can't say what she is like. Especially on the basis of one act. However, typically, actions like this are a good reflection on the character of the person doing them. While calling this "good sportsmanship" is a stretch, it certainly was a generous and heartwarming gesture.
Regarding the comments of some on what they would do, what anyone else does or feels led to do is really irrelevant. Really, if someone doesn't want to do something like this, they shouldn't. To do something like this that isn't heartfelt rarely works out.
It is interesting, if you read the article, to know that Vogel had already won the 1600, and thus had her "gold" medal or blue ribbon in hand. She was wiped out physically, and was content merely to finish the 2nd race. Having never finished last previously, it didn't bother her that this was the first time. It is a bit easier, in other words, to be magnaminous an generous when you have already achieved success. From Vogel's perspective, did it really matter if she finished 14th, 15th, or disqualified?
Regardless, I stand with those who enjoyed reading this story.
This is a cool story - maybe I'm not as much of a cynic as others here, but I'm happy to see anyone do something selfless regardless of the specific conditions and circumstances.
Reminds me of the story of the opposite team helping carry a girl after she hit a home run. If her team would have helped her it would have become only a single (I think).
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/the_best_tale_of_sportsmanship.html
I had not seen this before... turns out these girls won the 2008 Espy for Best Moment of the Year. So it kind of became a big deal, at the time. Wonder if A-Rod hit on any of them at the ceremony.
The great irony of that story, of course, is that the umpire blew it -- they COULD have subbed in a runner in the midst of the home-run trot, without penalty. He made the wrong call, and from that, two heroes emerged.
(Standard disclaimer: Awards for sports teams and sports moments are absurd. They arent planned out, they just happen.)
I think the ESPY for best sports moment is cool BECAUSE of the fact that sports "aren't planned out, they just happen."
If they were planned, then the moments wouldn't be so special!
was going to post this too. I think both stories have everything to do with sportsmanship. Others on this thread disagree, but I guess it depends on how you define sportsmanship.
If sportsmanship is as narrow as doing the right thing when it negatively affects you, then people are right, this was just a kind act.
I disagree with putting sportsmanship in that sort of box though. I think sporsmanship is many things, a couple of which are always following the rules and how you treat your opponent. I think, in helping her opponent finish the race, she was showing great sportsmanship by having compassion for an opponent.
A very big deal indeed. In this media age where armies of people (formerly known as journalists) hunt breathlesly for every "gaffe" to display and increase traffic, it's nice to see a story of a selfless act for a change. Cheers to Ms. Vogel, and may her tribe increase.
I graduated from Arlington High School (Arden McMath's, the girl who was helped, high school). Arlington is a small community (pop. ~1500), and everyone knows everyone. We don't usually get a lot of representation at the state meets and when a runner earns the trip, it's a big deal. Arden is a representation of the community of Arlington and Arlington high school. What Ms. Vogel didn't know, was that she was lifting the Arlington community across the finish line.
It may not be a huge deal for some people, but for the community of Arlington, it's a huge story and Ms. Vogel certainly won't be forgotten.