THE SPORTING SPIRIT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3809, 16 September 1936, Page 7

THE SPORTING SPIRIT

IN THE GAME OF LIFE. (Contributed.) To call a man “a good sport” is to pay him a high compliment. It may be that he does not shine at any of the outdoor games which come under the category of sport; he may even have ceased to take any active interest in any of them. It may be that his interest in sport is limited to an occasional attendance at a cricket match, a football game, a tennis tournament or a race meeting. A good sport is a man who plays the game, though he has ceased to play any game associated with sport. It is in playing the game of life that he has achieved the reputation of being worthy of high praise. What a testimony to sport in the building of character is the fact that one of the highest tributes that can be paid to a man is to call him a good sport! It means that in his relations with others he is always actuated by the spirit of fair play; that he credits those people to whom he may be opposed in business, in politics, and in all the other activities of communal and social life with being actuated by honest motives. The good sport is a staunch friend who can be relied upon in all the emergencies of life; and though his opponents may find him a serious obstacle in their path, they never cease to respect him as an honest man and a clean fighter. In the game of life—a game which derives much of its stimulus from the fact that it is a constant struggle against odds—he plays a manly part, which wins for him the good opinion of friend and foe. It is an interesting fact that sport, which is mainly a form of relaxation from the hard realities of life,

calls into play the best qualities of manhood. It teaches players selfreliance, and at the same time inculcates the value of team work. It encourages the individual to acquire a high degree of skill, and to glory in its display for the benefit of himself and his side. But when the interests of his side demand that he should act unselfishly, and refrain from displaying his skill, he willingly obeys. Sport enables men to meet on a footing of equality, and to struggle strenuously for victory according to the rules of the game, which in themselves embody the spirit of fair pliay. It teaches them to take hard knocks, to realise that they can’t always win, that although the fruits of victory are sweet there is no real bitterness in defeat. It teaches men to respect their opponents who have played the game fairly, and have won by superior skill and better training. It encourages the defeated to hold up their heads, and to try again, firmly confident that the tide of victory will turn. These are the qualities that build up the best type of manhood, and develop those qualities which entitle a man to be called a good sport. As long as sport is played for the sake of the game, it is admirable in every way in the results it achieves. But sport, if it is to continue to function in the building up of character, must be kept free from corroding influences. The high hopes entertained by adherents of sport that the Olympic Games would develop an international sporting spirit which would play a pai<t in establishing the peace of the world on a lasting basis have not met with much encouragement. To some of the competing nations at the Olympic Games victory has meant much more than sport; and games played in that spirit do not unite the victors and the Vanquished in the spirit of brotherhood. If international sport is to be used to foster national jealousies and antagonism, instead of eradicating them, it would be better to put an end to it. Even

within the British Empire we have seen imported into Test cricket in recent years something that isn’t cricket. That threat to the manly rivalry of skill in British sport has fortunately been removed; but its temporary appearance shows that sport can become an evil influence when victory counts for more than the game. Blind partisanship in sport such as is displayed by the great majority of ' the spectators at important matches in the Australian game of football is an enemy of the sporting spirit. No doubt a healthy degree of club rivalry in the struggle for the premiership of the season is stimulated by local partisanship. There is something soothing to one’s pride in the victory of the club associated with the locality in which one lives. Club rivalry, and local support of the clubs, which fosters that rivalry, are good for sport. But nothing can be said in favour of the blind partisans who in watching a spirited game of football can see nothing to admire in the play of the opponents of the club they “follow.” WJhat a i’oar of triumph comes from the throats of thousands of partisans When their side scores a goal; whereas a goal kicked by the other side is greeted by them with silence and dismjay. To the blind partisans the umpire is never an impartial guardian of the game. He is never right when he gives a decision in flavour of the opposing side. A good game of football played by sides which are evenly matched is a magnificent display of individual skill and team work; but to the blind partisans a good game is depressing unless their side wins. The blind partisans possess jione of the true spirit of sport; they are incapable of realising that defeat has often a more stimulating effect than victory; they are incapable of being just to their opponents; and in the game of life they are incapable of giving their opponents fail* Play.