Like many 10-year-old boys, my son is obsessed with sports. From the moment he wakes up, he’s glued to SportsCenter, scouring the latest highlights, checking player stats, and eagerly anticipating the evening games. As parents, my partner and I are thrilled that our children have developed a passion for athletics, whether it’s baseball, basketball, or even water polo. Having been a college athlete myself, I know firsthand the invaluable lessons sports teach—teamwork, perseverance, and self-confidence. While my son may not be the next sports superstar, I’m delighted he’s picking up on those crucial values.
However, it’s disheartening to realize that a lot of what kids absorb from watching professional sports is anything but positive. They’re bombarded with images of arrogance, tantrums, and unsportsmanlike conduct. They hear about athletes making headlines for all the wrong reasons—like that basketball player arrested for domestic violence, or the football player who threw a fit on the sidelines. They notice that professional teams often skip the traditional handshake after a game, a practice that’s a staple in their own youth sports.
Somewhere along the line, it seems that competition has overshadowed the basic humanity that should be at the heart of sports. This growing trend concerns me. While our kids witness the anger and drama that often captures the spotlight, what about the moments of teamwork, camaraderie, and simple decency that are the true essence of what sports should represent?
A couple of years ago, during a nail-biting Cubs game against the Dodgers, our family was glued to the screen. The tension was palpable, and while some adults exhibited less-than-stellar behavior, there were also quiet moments that could easily slip under the radar.
In the fifth inning, Cubs player Jack Simmons, who was struggling at the plate, disagreed with a call from the umpire. Frustrated, he began to stroll to first base—a move that typically annoys umpires. The ump called him back, and Simmons, understandably, was furious. However, in a surprising twist, instead of just moving on, he did something rare in professional sports—he apologized.
During his next at-bat, Simmons was caught on the mic saying, “My bad on that.” To which the ump, clearly surprised, replied, “Your bad for what, buddy?” Apologies aren’t exactly the norm in the world of sports officiating, but this exchange was a breath of fresh air. The umpire, Dave Rodriguez, reassured Simmons, saying, “You’re good, man. We all lose it sometimes. It shows you’re a good guy.”
That night, as we celebrated a Cubs victory, it was this moment of kindness between a player and an umpire that really moved me to tears. In a world that often feels overwhelmingly harsh, it’s easy to become cynical about the role models our kids are exposed to. We worry they’re learning the wrong lessons from athletes who act like, well, jerks. But moments like these remind us that decency, humility, and grace still exist.
As a parent, I sometimes find it exhausting to explain the poor behavior of athletes and public figures. I often struggle with how to encourage my kids to embody the values of kindness and respect when they see so many examples of the opposite. But then, events like this serve as a gentle reminder of how we should treat one another. This is the kind of behavior I want my kids to emulate—not just because these individuals are athletes, but because they remind us what it means to be good humans.
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In summary, while the sports world can often present a grim picture, it is essential to highlight and celebrate the moments of grace and humility that shine through. These instances are the true role models we should cherish and emulate as we guide our children toward becoming kind and decent individuals.