One topic that attracted my interest was a presentation done in class a few weeks ago. The topic was sportsmanship. The group who presented posed the question was LeBron James in the wrong when he walked off the court in the Eastern Conference Finals without shaking hands and congratulating the Orlando Magic. I believe he was right and wrong to walk off the court. Being the face of the NBA and the league MVP LeBron should have demonstrated good sportsmanship and congratulated Dwight Howard and the Magic. Instead, LeBron walked off the floor and didn't speak to the media following the game. The thing about sports is that when everything is on the line you become emotionally drained. LeBron is a competitor and like all competitors, he despises losing. LeBron was frustrated and embarrassed following the loss so I understand why he bolted off the court. There have been instances where I have congratulated my opponent and ignored them following a game. The other topic of the presentation was shaking hands before a college football game. I don't like this concept because if anything it makes sense to shake hands following a game. Emotions are high before a game and it doesn't make sense for opponents to communicate and wish each other luck before a game. If anything I believe it is good to show sportsmanship in youth sports to teach young teenagers good values but when it comes to professional sports athletes are mature and old enough to make their own decisions on whether to display good sportsmanship. Most athletes are role models and should represent the game well and display sportsmanship. Sports are very unique because so many emotions are expressed and when caught up in the moment it may be difficult to do the right thing.
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ReplyDeleteI disagree with you Nick that the incident of LeBron not shaking Dwight Howard’s hand in the Eastern Conference Finals should not been a debating issue. The media went overboard of criticizing LeBron because other superstar athletes such as Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade will have the similar reaction that LeBron imposed after a heated playoff game. There could be a last second shot from the opposing player or a foul that brings controversy. Playoff games are decided in the last possession and there could be mistakes from the officials which could cause a NBA team of going to the finals. For example, a couple years ago in the NBA Western Conference Finals, there was accident which brought media scrutiny from the officials. The accident was when Steve Nash came up the floor and was foul hard by a Spurs player and caused Steve Nash to have a bloody nose. The rule in the NBA states that if a player has a bloody nose they are not allowed to be on the floor until it stops. The controversy began when it did stop and the officials did not allowed Steve Nash to get back in the game. This started the conspiracy of NBA officials of fixing games and gambling accusations. The argument is that superstar athletes give their maximize effort and playoff games are usually decided in the last possession. In my opinion, superstar athletes have the right of not shaking their opponents hand because in the heat of the playoffs can be stressful when games are decided in the last possession.
ReplyDeleteI remember that I left class quite heated over the reactions to this topic in class. Your opinion is valid about understanding both sides and you explained your reasoning and I respect that. However, I don’t agree. Sportsmanship has always been a big part of sports for me because it takes you out of the thought that sports is life. Walking off the court without shaking hands proved to me that Lebron is a sore loser. Of course no one plays competitive sports to lose, but the fact is that losing is a part of the game. I was so glad when someone in class finally said that in order for athletes to be good sports they need to learn how to lose.
ReplyDeleteI am sick of all these big time athletes huffing and puffing over a game… Remember it’s just a game, not life. Lebron knows that he is in a position where he is looked up to by younger fans, and whether he wanted this attention or not, he needs to learn how to deal with it. As for the other issue of wanting athletes to shake hands before the game, I agree it’s not necessary. Before the game the Captains from each team meet in the middle and usually shake hands then as a representative for the teams. As for after the games, it may not be a written rule but it’s understood.
I have a problem with what Lebron did--not just in refusing to shake hands with the Magic players, but also in the way that he explained it. Does he think he is the only player who does not like to lose? What does that say about players who shake hands when they lose? Does that mean they don't mind losing? I would have had more respect for him if he would have at least acknowledged that it was inappropriate to not shake hands. But instead he defended himself. Typically I think Lebron has shown great maturity, but in this case, I was disappointed by his actions.
ReplyDeleteI think that it was wrong that Lebron did that. Yes emotions are high but that does not mean he can disrespect his team and the other team like that. It is a tradition to shake hands after a game to congratulate the winners. Even if it is hard to do when you are up set if feels good when you win a game and some one congratulates me on the other team. Shaking hands at the end of a game shows that you have class and can take losing with your head up high saying you gave it everything you had.
ReplyDeleteYes I have had games where I have not wanted to shake hands at the end of the game but I did anyways because it shows you are a good sport. If I were to see more athletes just walk off the court when I was little and looked up to them as my heroes after a game I probably would have walked off the court also. I just think that he was wrong in doing this and showed that he is not as mature as most people think.