Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: 'Win-at-all-costs' ruins sportsmanship Date: Sun, 1 Nov 92 20:06:09 EST Message-ID: \SE C;SPORTS;SPORTS VIEWS;SPORTS FORUM \HD 'Win-at-all-costs' ruins sportsmanship The violence, fighting, lack of good sportsmanship and fair play on all levels of sports are directly attributable to the pernicious "win-at-all-costs" attitude permeating athletics today. Clearly, when our institutions of learning place such a premium on "successful" athletic programs, they encourage - tacitly or explicitly - unethical and illegal recruiting practices. When athletic directors and coaches become so obsessed with winning (at all costs), they treat rudely and discourteously the young people under their guidance and supervision. It is not surprising that college and high school athletes subordinate their morality and personal integrity for monetary gain. Moreover, unethical and illegal recruiting practices undermine those educators and coaches who admirably seek to promote high ethical values in education and sports. To promote fair play and good sportsmanship, we must (1) reward the process of achieving rather than the outcome; (2) praise athletes for their efforts rather than their actual successes; and (3) encourage the development of personal qualities such as unselfishness, teamwork, self-discipline and character and not just the development of physical and athletic skills. HAVEN BRADFORD GOW Arlington Heights, Ill. The Washington Times welcomes your views. Letters should be signed originals, typed double-spaced. If responding to a published article, please include the date of publication and headline. Letters may be edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, address and daytime and evening telephone numbers to: Sports Forum The Washington Times 3600 New York Ave. NE Washington, D.C. 20002 FAX: 202/529-7869 This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM