Speaking of sports and sportsmen

Last weekend, I was focused on the annual Masters Golf Tournament. After reflecting about the tournament over the next few days, I was reminded of a particular quote from my youth, "... remember sports fans, when speaking of sports, speak like a sport!"

That phrase was heard each and every evening on KOAM Channel 7 television in Pittsburg, Kan. At the end of the regular half-hour newscast, sports anchor Vic Cox reported sports during the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. nightly news segments. Vic Cox, always ended his sports broadcast, with the same phrase listed in the previous paragraph.

Back then, I don't think I fully appreciated the impact and meaning in Vic's statement. Sports, and sports news, have always been favorite venues for me. You would only have to watch me with any newspaper to verify my affection for sports. Like a lot of people I know, the first thing I go to in a paper is the sports section.

I have loved and played sports all my life. I live and die with each of my mostly terrible golf swings, and I rejoice or despair depending on the results from wins or losses by the local Nevada Tigers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Royals, or the Missouri Tigers.

There is however, so much more to those words by Vic Cox, if one takes the time to evaluate them. There is deeper moral tenant within the very word, sport. We have all heard this word used to refer to a particular game or activity, but their is another definition that has a great deal of meaning.

The word sport can also be a noun meaning: "a person, who behaves in a good or specified way in response to teasing, defeat, or a similarly trying situation." To simplify it to everyday wording, we are all familiar with the admonition "be a good sport!"

Just participating in sports is not enough. Our society expects you to behave in a manner consistent with being a good person and citizen. Lately the practice of good sportsmanship has come under increasing attack. This past weekend, Tiger Woods, arguably the worlds greatest golfer, finally went over the line, at least for me.

I had not paid much attention to Tiger's off field problems in the months leading up to the Masters. Truth be known, I am by nature pretty forgiving. I have made plenty of mistakes in my life, and I don't have room to judge Tiger regarding his personal marital issues.

I do feel I have the right to judge Tiger or any other athlete, when it comes to decent behavior within the bounds of their public sport. That includes a variety of issues. Cheating, for example, would be something I would never condone.

During the last two days of the Masters Tournament, Tiger played some of the best and worst golf I have ever witnessed by a professional golfer at one event. He set a record for scoring eagles on four separate holes, but he also hit some shots so horrible, they would have made some of mine look good.

When I hit one of those types of shots (I do this quite often), I have been known to use some colorful language to express my displeasure. I can even understand Tiger using language like this when he is by himself, or with a few close friends. What is not correct on his part is to use this kind of language on live television. After all, he is being followed by every camera and microphone around. This kind of language is not good for him, his fans, or the sport in general.

In addition to his unacceptable cursing, he made another verbal statement that really angered me. After the tournament, he and the other golfers were interviewed regarding their thoughts on the tournament.

Tiger was not very gracious in his comments. He basically said he was unhappy at not winning, and that he only cared about the tournament if he did win.

Not once did he go out of his way to congratulate the eventual winner, Phil Mickelson. Phil played a flawless final round of golf in what most people think is the most difficult golf tournament in the world. Over the final 18 holes, he posted a 67 out of a possible 72 strokes, and did not have a single bogey.

I will be the first to acknowledge that Tiger is still day in and day out the best golfer in the world. He hits some unbelievable shots, and when he is over any putt less than 30 feet, there is no one who is better. Having said that, he still has a lot to learn about the game of golf, and what it means to be a truly great champion.

Much of his behavior is not all that uncommon in today's sports world. Being a good sport has become increasingly rare in sports these days.

Perhaps the best example I can highlight, is the infamous display many players exhibit after a play. I have witnessed this time and again in recent years. A team may be down by several touchdowns in a football game, and then one of their players makes a decent play. He seems to forget that his team is loosing, and badly at that. That does not stop him, however. Miming like an "Island Headhunter," he goes into his war dance with the accompanying scream This is usually followed by the beating of the chest, and a display of tattoos on his arms.

You have all seen this. It is the culture of today's sports world. Even Tiger is not happy unless he can display his fist pump. Well thanks, Tiger, but I would prefer more of the old fashioned golf behavior. If you tried being a role model instead of a showman, we would all think you were the greatest!