Growing up and playing my youth sports in the 1940's & 1950's, I was plug into the prevailing wisdom and philosophy, which preached sportsmanship and the idea that sport participation 'builds character.'
I do not deny the possibility that sport participation can 'build' character, however in this 21st century America, I truly believe that sport participation more often 'REVEALS' participant and spectator character !!
Please consider:
(1) Texas cheerleader mom plans murder of daughter's rival's mother.
(2). Pro boxer bites off part of opponent's ear.
(3) Pro NFL coach offers injury bounty to his players who send opponents to sidelines injured
(4). NFL coach video spies on opponent
(5). NFL team deflates football under the leagues standards.
(6). Numerous MLB players guilty of performance enhancing drug use
(7). Endless academic and cheating scandals dot the history of college athletic programs
(8). Little League parents frequently engage in fist fights @ sport contests
It is often purported that sport is a microcosm of society...I agree...many aspects of youth sports, college sports and pro sports prepare us to embrace society's greed and cheating.
Let's be honest and not speak with a forked-tongue!
Personal acknowledgement: Those of us who grew up in the '40's & '50's are not very sophisticated; we ate meals together as a family and watched television programs like Father Knows Best and American Bandstand...We truly did think Dad knew best...and American Bandstand female performers did not display 'skin' and the male singers did not grab their penis and testicles while singing. We were somewhat of a boring generation
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