Like many 10-year-old boys, my son is obsessed with sports. His day revolves around catching updates on SportsCenter, diving into stats, and cheering for his favorite teams. My husband and I are grateful that our children have a passion for various sports—from baseball to basketball to water polo. As a former college athlete, I know firsthand the invaluable lessons sports can impart, such as teamwork, perseverance, and self-confidence. While my son may not be the next superstar, I’m thrilled he’s absorbing these essential lessons.
However, the joy of playing and watching sports is often overshadowed by the negative behaviors exhibited by some professional athletes. Our kids are bombarded with examples of arrogance, tantrums, and unsportsmanlike conduct. They hear about basketball players facing legal troubles and see football players arguing with coaches and officials. They notice that while they shake hands after their games, professional teams often neglect this simple act of sportsmanship.
It seems that as athletes rise through the ranks, the focus shifts from being a good sport to merely being a competitor. This reality is disheartening. Our kids witness the anger and drama that make headlines, but what about the genuine moments of teamwork, camaraderie, and basic human decency that should define sports?
A couple of years ago, my family gathered to watch the Chicago Cougars take on the Giants in a nail-biting match. Emotions were high, as they tend to be during crucial games. Amidst a few adult meltdowns, there were also quiet, beautiful moments that could easily go unnoticed.
In the fifth inning, Cougars’ slugger Jake Martinez, who was struggling at the plate, didn’t agree with an umpire’s call. Believing he’d been wronged, he began to stroll to first base—a sight that drives umpires up the wall. Naturally, the ump called him back, and Martinez exploded in frustration. Yet, in a remarkable twist, instead of just moving on, he took the time to apologize.
During his next at-bat, he was heard saying, “My bad on that one.” The umpire, who was wired for sound, responded, “Your bad for what, man?” Clearly, apologies aren’t something you hear often in professional sports.
Martinez stammered through his apology, but the umpire, Tony Reynolds, reassured him, “It’s all good, buddy. You’re a great guy for coming back and saying that.”
This exchange moved me to tears. Celebrating the Cougars’ victory was sweet, but witnessing two human beings showcase such kindness was the real highlight. It’s easy to become jaded in today’s world and worry that our kids are absorbing the wrong lessons from their sports heroes. We can get so caught up in the emotions and pressures of life that we overlook these small yet significant moments of grace and humility.
Honestly, I often find myself exhausted from explaining the questionable antics of athletes and public figures. I struggle with how to guide my kids to be kind and respectful when they see so many negative examples around them. But then moments like this remind me of how decent humans can behave. This is the kind of role model I want for my kids—not someone simply known for their athletic prowess, but someone striving to be a good person.
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In summary, teaching our kids grace and humility amidst the chaos of the world is an ongoing challenge, but it’s essential for raising kind individuals. We can find inspiration in the small moments that highlight the best in humanity, reminding us that goodness exists, even in sports.