Children, Sporting Events and Sportsmanship...

So, I went to watch DV’s recreational basketball team play the other day, and as with many of the sporting events on the Island, I was rather perplexed and disgusted by the behaviour of some of the players and spectators. It caused me to step back to ponder about the state of that thing called sportsmanship, and whether the concept has been eroded from that thing called sports. Does the concept exist anymore? Is the concept akin to that thing we call ‘manners’ and ‘humility’? Does shaking hands at the start of a game mean anything anymore? When can we separate genuine celebration from bragging and posturing at the expense of the opponent?

It seems that on watching professional and recreational athletes, the concept of sportsmanship has become a myth as the behaviour of the fans, athletes and parents have deteriorated to an incomprehensible level. Potential sporting events must be thoroughly screened before I would even consider taking my child, and further, God forbid I should never have a babysitter when I go out to play, because I do not trust the athletes or spectators to comport themselves in a manner befitting the presence of a child. Profanity, fights and general inappropriate behaviour are abundant, and it seems as if raunchy behaviour is no longer adjusted when children are present. Whatever happened to the flicking village raising the child? When I am running the bases, is it that I must speed back to the dug out for fear of what might be said to further warp the mind of my child or random children? I can remember asking spectators at an event to refrain from using profanities in the presence of my child. This seemed to be a shocking and unnatural request, and at one point, I was belligerently advised that maybe I should have left my child home. Needless to say, in practicing what I preached, I did not cuss them in front of my pickney, but waited for a more suitable occasion.

I can vividly remember the football brawl which erupted during the finals of the five a side football tournament. Children of all ages were present, playing vdeo games and romping throughout the venue, when the brawl eventually spilled over onto the carpeted area. Spouses and significant others eventually joined the fracas, and it was disgraceful to note that not all parents grabbed their child / children and exited the venue. Fighting and cussing were their priorities at the time.

On watching the afrementioned recreational basketball teams compete, had parents taken their children out to watch, they would have been privy to disrespectful behaviour to officials; racist comments; and general profanity to a level that was downright embarrassing. It seems as if sporting events no longer cater for young and impressionable fans, nor do a lot of adults stand up and take notice, in order to ensure that said sporting events are conducted in a manner suitable for children.

Lawd’amercy. Have we gone mad? I could go on and on with this, but the I and I too tiyad. You get the point.

On that note, I shall now exit.

Ta.