IN THIS ISSUE:

FRONT ROW

Collegiate Sports: If Robert De Niro Ran the NCAA
Olympic Sports: Do the Olympics Bring Out the Best or Worst in Human Nature?
Jocks Behaving Badly:
• South Korea and the IOC Win Gold Medals for Chutzpah
• After Losing Gold, Figure Skater Awards Himself Platinum
• After Winning Bronze, Snowboarder Earns Himself Ticket Home
Jocks Behaving Exceptionally:
• How to Show Class on the Medal Platform
• How to Show Class on the Seventh Green
Michael Josephson's Commentary: If You Love Competition, You Never Lose

SIDELINES

Announcements
Trivia Test: In What Winter Olympic Sport Does Sportsmanship Play an Integral Part?
You Make the Call: Was It Okay for Canada to Deny Foreign Athletes Access to Its Olympic Venues Prior to the Games?
Principle of the Month: The Most Difficult Decision in Sports
Say What?
Trivia Test Answer

FRONT ROW

COLLEGIATE SPORTS

If Robert De Niro Ran the NCAA

The NCAA Rules Committee recommended a new football rule to the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel last month that, if approved, should be dubbed the Travis Bickle Clause.

To prevent players who are running toward the goal line from taunting defenders, the rule would make any “looking back” gesture a penalty and the touchdown would be nullified.

The problem is, during that split second, with the offending player’s face partially obscured by his helmet and face guard, how can an official determine if the player is looking back to see if the defender’s going to catch him (okay) or looking back to taunt him for not being able to catch him (not okay)? Thank goodness Ed Hochuli’s still in the pros.

“Taunting an opponent is not good sportsmanship,” wrote Ray Melick in The Birmingham News. “Unfortunately, what constitutes taunting is like the Supreme Court’s 1964 attempt to define obscenity: We’ll know it when we see it.”

Paraphrasing what Robert De Niro’s character Travis Bickle uttered memorably in Taxi Driver, we can only imagine what college officials may be murmuring next season: “You lookin' to me? You lookin’ at me? Then who else are you lookin’ at? Well, I’m the only one here.”

[blog.al.com, 2/15/10]

OLYMPIC SPORTS

Do the Olympics Bring Out the Best or Worst in Human Nature?

They Bring Out the Worst
So says writer and author Christopher Hitchens in Newsweek, portions of which are adapted here:

In Angola in early January a gang of shooters sprays the bus carrying the national soccer team of Togo, and a local terrorist group announces that as long as the Africa Cup of Nations tournament is played on Angolan soil, fresh homicides will be committed.

On my desk lies an essay by South African academic R.W. Johnson describing the waves of resentment and disruption that are sweeping through the lovely city of Cape Town as the start of the World Cup draws near. Cost overruns and corruption, the closing of schools to make room for a hastily constructed new stadium, violent animosity between taxi drivers and mass-transit workers, constant disputes over the rigging of draws for the playoffs, allegations of bribery of referees.

Meanwhile, genial, welcoming Canada is the object of complaints from British and American sports officials who say their athletes [were] denied full access to the venue’s ski runs, tracks, and skating rinks. “It shows a lack of sportsmanship,” said Ron Rossi, executive director of USA Luge.

On the contrary, Mr. Rossi, what we are seeing is the very essence of sportsmanship. Whether it’s the exacerbation of national rivalries that you want or the exhibition of the most depressing traits of the human personality (guns in lockers rooms, golf clubs wielded in the home, dogs tortured at stars’ homes, dope and steroids everywhere), you need only look to the wide world of sports for the most rank and vivid examples.

As George Orwell wrote in his 1945 essay “The Sporting Spirit” after yet another outbreak of mayhem and chauvinism on the international soccer field, “Sport is an unfailing cause of ill-will…Even if one didn’t know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.”

To read the entire article, go to:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/233007

They Bring Out the Best
Michael Josephson’s favorite Olympic story shows what sports can achieve:

In the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, six-time medalist Eugenio Monti from Italy was favored to win the gold medal in the bobsledding pair event. After his team’s last run, it looked like they were going to make it.

The British team, led by Tony Nash Jr., still had a chance, but before their final run, Nash discovered a critical axle bolt had broken on their sled. They were done.

Without hesitation, Monti removed the bolt from his sled and rushed it up to Nash’s team. They were able to continue, and their run was so strong they won the gold medal.

The Italian press viciously criticized Monti for giving up the gold, but he was steadfast. “Nash didn’t win because I gave him the bolt,” he said. “He won because he had the fastest run.”

Olympic swimming medalist John Naber says a true sportsman, one who believes in the Olympic ideal, not only wants to win, he wants to win against his best opponent on his best day. A true sportsman is not elated, but disappointed, when top competitors are injured or disqualified.

Monti won the gold medal at the next Winter Olympics, but it was his willingness to lose that earned him a prominent place in Olympic history.

[newsweek.com, 2/5/10]

JOCKS BEHAVING BADLY

South Korea and the IOC
Win Gold Medals for Chutzpah

In 2008, billionaire Samsung chairman and International Olympic Committee member Lee Kun-Hee, one of the world’s richest men, was found guilty of bribery and tax evasion and fined $109 million. He resigned from the company and gave up his IOC position.

An IOC spokesman declared that Lee had violated crucial principles of the organization. “Lee received the strongest sanction. He violated ethical principles and tarnished the reputation of the Olympic movement.”

No matter. Two months ago, the South Korean government pardoned him. One week before the Vancouver Games began, the IOC reinstated him. Samsung is a major official sponsor of the 2010 Winter Olympics.

“So he was duly punished – by being reinstated as a full member of the IOC – while Wayne Gretzky and other Canadians are wandering around the Olympic village wearing clothes brandishing the Samsung logo,” wrote Canadian political activist Gerald Caplan in The Globe and Mail.

Although Lee is prohibited from serving on any committees for five years, he’s allowed to attend sessions and vote, which will help South Korea’s chances to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. South Korea now has two IOC members.

[theglobeandmail.com, 2/7/10]

After Losing Gold, Figure Skater
Awards Himself Platinum

Russian silver medalist figure skater Evgeni Plushenko, who tried officially and unofficially to knock America’s Evan Lysacek off the top spot of the medal platform, apparently now wants to topple Tonya Harding from the All-Time Bad Loser stage.

It all started at the medal ceremony when defending gold medalist Plushenko briefly stepped onto the stand’s top spot before relinquishing it to Lysacek. Later, he told ESPN that he had won. “But I suppose Evan needs a gold medal more than I do because I already have one. If the Olympic champion doesn’t know how to jump a quad, it isn’t men’s figure skating; it’s men’s ice dancing.”

Plushenko performed more jumps than Lysacek, including one quad, but Lysacek’s routine was judged to have better execution and more sophisticated choreography.

After the upset, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin fueled the fire by declaring Plushenko’s “silver is worth gold.” Russian television went further, presenting him with a platinum medal.

Within hours, a graphic appeared on his website showing his silver medal at Salt Lake, his gold medal at Torino, and his “platinum” medal at Vancouver. Below was a sly “What’s next?” linking to the 2014 Olympic Games site. The graphic has since been removed.

[seattlepi.com, 2/19/10; mediaite.com, 2/22/10]

After Winning Bronze, Snowboarder Earns Himself Ticket Home

U.S. snowboarder Scotty Lago was in the midst of a 36-hour bender celebrating his bronze medal in halfpipe when a photo was taken of him, his medal, and a young woman in a way that puts " medal ceremony" in a whole new light.

When the photo surfaced on TMZ.com, Lago was quietly sent home. U.S. athletes had been repeatedly warned beforehand to conduct themselves properly, particularly regarding cell phone camera usage.

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced that Lago “left on his own accord. He wasn't forced to leave.”

Sources close to Lago, however, disputed that statement. They told Yahoo.com that the U.S. Olympic Committee gave the snowboarder two options: 1) leave Vancouver quietly and immediately, or 2) risk getting formally ejected, which could affect future Olympic participation.

Lago's father, responding from his New Hampshire home, told the Snowboarding Examiner that his son “did something pretty foolish, but nothing illegal. No one's hurt. That's really all that matters to me.”

[examiner.com, 2/22/10]

JOCKS BEHAVING EXCEPTIONALLY

How to Show Class
on the Medal Platform

During the medal ceremony for the women’s snowboarding cross finals at Vancouver, silver medalist Deborah Anthonioz of France and bronze medalist Olivia Nobs of Switzerland were in their places on the platform awaiting Maelle Ricker of Canada, the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic gold medal at home.

Although the Canadian fans were cheering wildly, Nobs, with a genuine smile on her face, embodied the true spirit of the Olympics by rousing the crowd to cheer even louder for the athlete who had defeated her.

How to Show Class
on the Seventh Green

During his match with Sergio Garcia in the Accenture Match Play golf tournament last month, Ian Poulter hit his ball behind a television tower, blocking his shot to the seventh green. Garcia was already on the green.

In medal play, the right choice would be to chip sideways away from the tower before going to the green. But this was stroke play. Poulter’s only chance to win or halve the hole was to go for the hole. To do so, he asked an official for relief from the tower.

The official rejected his request, feeling he was gaming the rules for a better lie. Poulter argued that although chipping away from the tower was the correct play in medal play, it would automatically cost him the hole in stroke play.

A second official was called over. He, too, rejected Poulter’s request.

Finally, Garcia walked up. After evaluating the situation, he explained to both officials that his opponent Poulter was correct. His only chance was to go for it, and he should not be required to chip it sideways. This was a remarkable act of sportsmanship, considering Garcia was down by two holes at the time.

The officials relented, and Poulter was allowed relief, which, as it turned out, he didn’t take as the lie it gave him was even worse. Although he ended up losing the hole, he defeated Garcia 7 and 6 in the match. He went on to win the tournament, the first U.S. victory of his career.

[golfblogger.com, 2/20/10]

MICHAEL JOSEPHSON'S COMMENTARY

If You Love Competition, You Never Lose

Suppose you’re an Olympic athlete and you hear that the only athlete with a chance to beat you is ill and may have to withdraw. Are you overjoyed or disappointed?

You ought to be disappointed. Olympian swimmer John Naber, winner of four gold medals, says a true sportsman wants to compete against his best competitor on his best day. Although that makes winning more difficult and less likely, it also makes the event more exciting and a victory more meaningful. Being declared a winner is not true victory; being the best is.

In any sport, what’s more fun: to play against someone you easily dominate or against someone who forces you to be your best and makes every point an exciting challenge? The aim of sports is to have fun while trying to win and to love the game enough that you can enjoy yourself whether you win or not.

Athletic competition is not war. Those you compete against are also the ones you play with. They aren’t enemies. The word “competition” comes from the Latin root competere, which means “to strive together, not against each other.”

Be thankful for quality competitors who push you to your limit. You’ll find sports more healthy and enjoyable when you respect and like your opponents rather than disdain or hate them. When you compete against someone as good or better than you, you may not always win, but you never lose.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

For an archive of Mr. Josephson’s commentaries, click here.

	ANNOUNCEMENTS
A New Voice to Teach Sportsmanship: Hollywood Talk about perfect casting. CHARACTER COUNTS! has teamed up with Film Clips Spirit of America to produce four DVDs in which clips from famous movies impart lessons in sportsmanship, leadership, or the Six Pillars of Character. Each $39.99 DVD features 12 memorable movie scenes that teach important ethical values and includes a discussion guide, classroom lessons, and activities. The Sportsmanship DVD addresses situations that commonly occur during athletic competition with clips from such classic sports movies as Chariots of Fire, Seabiscuit, Remember the Titans, The Sandlot, and many more. Learn more » Sign Up Now for Our Most Affordable Sportsmanship Seminar Ever On June 18, Josephson Institute will present its first one-day Pursuing Victory With Honor sportsmanship seminar at our very own headquarters office in Los Angeles. It will save you money (only $198) and time (one day instead of two). The seminar will show you how to integrate character-developing activities into your sports program and how to respond to challenges and questions from student athletes, fans, officials, parents, and colleagues. Learn more»
	TRIVIA TEST
In What Winter Olympic Sport Does Sportsmanship Play an Integral Part? In this sport: • The spirit of the game demands good sportsmanship, kindly feeling, and honorable conduct. • Players introduce themselves to one another, wish each other good luck, and shake hands before and after every match. • Players call their own fouls by alerting their opponents. • Players congratulate their opponents for good shots. • Players accept penalties humbly. • Players never celebrate their opponent’s mistakes. • Players never distract their opponents. • Players never intimidate or demean opponents, teammates, or officials. • Coaches never speak to their players during games, making players totally responsible for their actions. • Teams never continue play when a game is out of reach. • Winning team buys losing team drinks afterward. • Losing team can honorably concede before a game is completed by removing their gloves and shaking hands. There’s no stigma associated with quitting. Plus it allows more time for socializing. What winter Olympic sport is it? See the answer below.
	YOU MAKE THE CALL
Was It Okay for Canada to Deny Foreign Athletes Access to Its Olympic Venues Prior to the Games? • It was not only proper but good strategy. That’s called home-field advantage. • It was not only improper but a national embarrassment. That’s dissing the Olympic spirit. • I’m not sure. Click here to vote Results of Last Month’s Poll Should signs urging home teams to vanquish visiting teams be prohibited? Such a policy is necessary. You have to draw the line somewhere. 36% Such a policy is too strict. It would thwart creativity and school spirit. 57% I'm not sure. 7%
	PRINCIPLE OF THE MONTH
Principles Six and Sixteen: The Most Difficult Decision in Sports In a poignant article on searchwarp.com, writer Ellen McCormick recalls an indelible incident on a playing field that not only tested her character but determined the direction of her life. A portion is excerpted here: “Out!” the referee shouted. My team threw their gloves in the air. Our coach was smiling. It was a double play that would win the game. I wanted to please my coach. I wanted to make my team proud and to win the game. But I knew that wasn’t enough. “Fair play and good sportsmanship before all else. That’s where a sport’s true greatness lies.” That’s what my coach always told us. Coaches, who deal with the kids during games, warm-ups, and practices, who state the rules and decide how the team will play, have the duty to use their influence to help the players develop these values and noble aspirations. A coach’s role goes beyond helping kids excel at a sport. It lies in leading them to true greatness, teaching them how to live. In many ways, life is like a sport. We score in life by living well, building character and leadership in order to place it at the service of others. As I looked at my coach, I knew I couldn’t let him down, and I knew I would be letting him down even if he never found out what had happened. “No, wait.” I ran to the infield and turned to the umpire. “I fumbled the catch. Number 8 was safe.” I felt my cheeks burning as my team put their gloves on and went back to their bases. I looked at my coach. He seemed puzzled for a moment, and then threw me a smile. “Good call, kid.” And he slapped me on the back. I remember this coach with gratitude every time I find myself in a pinch, struggling to do what I know is right: “Good sportsmanship before all else.” With his words and example, he taught me much more than baseball; he made the sport an ideal of life. Principles Six and Sixteen, respectively, of the Arizona Sports Summit Accord state that: “All sports participants must consistently demonstrate scrupulous integrity and observe the spirit as well as the letter of the rules.” “Coaches, through words and example, must strive to build the character of their athletes by teaching them to be trustworthy, respectful, responsible, fair, caring, and good citizens.” [searchwarp.com, 1/26/10] Nearly 50 influential leaders in sports issued the Arizona Sports Summit Accord in 1999 to encourage greater emphasis on the ethical and character-building aspects of athletic competition. Read the full text here.
	SAY WHAT?
“If arrogant nationalism were a sport, Canada would win gold.” – Montreal Gazette columnist Henry Aubin on the country limiting access to practice facilities for foreign competitors prior to the Winter Olympics “Great Britain and America have proposed a half-billion-dollar fund to create jobs for Taliban members who lay down their arms. And if it works there, they’re going to offer the same deal to NBA players.” – Comedian Jay Leno “I hate who he is as a person. Everything I stand for he despises and dislikes. I truly do not like him as a person whatsoever. I want to break his neck in the ring. I want him to be the first person that dies due to Octagon-related injuries.” – Mixed martial arts heavyweight fighter Frank Mir on champion Brock Lesnar “Tom Watson criticized Tiger Woods for his misbehavior and said his swearing and club-throwing projects the wrong image for golf. He’s right, this isn’t ladies’ tennis.” – Comedian Argus Hamilton “Mike wanted to give up that home run. I was charting pitches that night for my start the next day and it was super obvious that he wanted to give it up. Everything to Bonds was low 80s and center cut. I think Mike had some notion that if he gave it up, he could be part of history and make a few dollars out of it one day.” – Former Washington Nationals pitcher Tim Redding on Mike Bacsik, who gave up Barry Bonds’s 756th home run in 2007 “We miss you, Tiger! Deju Vu Showgirls.” – Sign from an airplane promoting a San Diego strip club above the Torrey Pines golf course during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open “I have to go with the Colts. I’ve never been a real Saints fan.” – Michael Brown, former FEMA chief and symbol of the government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina “I didn’t buy a word of sincerity that was coming out of his mouth. I thought he was a punk and coward away from the real issue of addressing what transpired.” – Journalist Stephen A. Smith on Tiger Woods’s public apology “Question: Who will exchange valentines this year? Allen Iverson and practices? Dirk Nowitzki and Cristal Taylor? LeBron James and good sportsmanship?” – Rick Kretzchmar of the Longview News-Journal “China shut down the nation’s number-one condom factory. It’s the first Trojan scandal in ten years that doesn’t involve recruiting violations.” – Comedian Argus Hamilton ~ Classic From the Past ~ “Sometimes they write what I say and not what I mean.” – Baseball player Pedro Guerrero
	TRIVIA TEST ANSWER
Curling.
	CONTACT US
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