Sportsmanship 101

At the Gainesville State School, in Gainesville, Texas, the young men can earn the privilege of playing on the basketball team.  During the season, the team travels to 4 or 5 schools for games.  Being a correction facility for felony offenders, their fan base is close to zero.  Parents rarely come and the other inmates aren’t allowed to attend.  The Vanguard College Prep School, in Waco, Texas, was on the playing schedule.  Hudson Bradley and Ben Martinton, Vanguard players, decided that it wasn’t the best playing conditions if the Gainesville team didn’t have supporters.  Before the game, the two young men went to the gym, explained their idea, and asked half of the adults, half of the students, and half of the cheerleaders to sit on the opposite side of the gym and cheer for their opponents.  The cheerleaders even had time to make a few signs.  Obviously, the Gainesville players were stunned when they entered the gym with a receiving line to welcome them.  The “Visitor” side of the gym erupted in cheers for the Tornados.  Eventually, both sides were cheering on the Gainesville players, as well as their own.  After the game, one of the Gainesville players said, “That’s something I won’t forget.  When I’m an old man, I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this.”  Vanguard athlete Hudson Bradley responded, “This is kind of how sports should be.  It showed me the impact that encouragement and support for anybody can make.  We all need someone to believe in us.  Someone who knows our mistakes and loves us anyway.”

Basketball teams, in eastern Kentucky, were playing in the state playoffs.  The Pike Central band arrived early, set up, and was ready to play for their team.  Due to a bus driver shortage, the Martin County High School band didn’t attend the game.  Some students noticed and asked their Band Director, Mr. Johnson, if they could play to cheer on the Cardinals, even  though they were usually their opponents.  He agreed and the students played several songs throughout the second half of the game.  After the game, the Martin County players said it helped level the playing field and helped them win in overtime.  Several of their fans stayed to cheer on Pike Central and their band in the next game.  Unfortunately, the Pike Central players did not win their game or advance to the finals.  The following Monday, the Martin County band invited the Pike Central band to play with them for the state playoffs.  Mr. Johnson and the band excitedly accepted the invitation.

 It’s always a good time to practice sportsmanship.

 

 

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:10

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Being the Change

 

Bruce Hayes, coach, teacher, and mentor at Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, will long be remembered for challenging his students and athletes to “Be the change” in our world. 

Recently, the senior boy and girl soccer players, at Pleasanton High School in Pleasanton, Texas, took part in the jersey tradition.  Each player selected a teacher that had made an impact on their life.  Then, they took one of their jerseys, went to the teacher’s room, verbally expressed their gratitude for the difference they had made in their life, and gave the teacher their soccer jersey as a way to honor them.

 

Jason Smith is the principal of Stonybrook Intermediate and Middle School in Warren Township, Indiana.  An eighth grader was sent to his office for refusing to take his hat off in the classroom.  While talking, Smith found out that the student had recently had a haircut and he didn’t like the way he looked.  Principal Smith told the boy, “I’ve been cutting hair most of my life.  I played college basketball, cut my teammates’ hair before games, and I’ve been cutting my son’s hair for 17 years.”  He had professional clippers and edgers at home.  Smith asked the student, “If I go home and get my clippers and line you up, will you go back to class?”  The student assured him he would.  Smith knows how important it is for a junior high student to take pride in how they look and to be self-confident.  “We’re not disciplining with a hard fist.  You could call and have the parent pick up the kid for defiance.  Or you can sit and get to the root of the problem and see what can I do to help you?  What do you need right now?”

 

In every movie Robin Williams filmed, he had the production company hire a minimum of 10 homeless people for each movie.  During his career, around 1,520 homeless people were hired and helped.

 

Mike Krzyzewski coached the Duke Blue Devils’ men’s basketball team 42 years, retiring in 2022.  Before the March Madness NCAA Tournament, he met with the players and coaches and gave each a basketball and a Sharpie marker.  As a visual reminder, Coach K instructed them to write the names of the people who had helped, encouraged, and mentored them through the years.  In the days following, Coach Krzyzewski noticed the players carrying the balls with them.  What an impact, on players and coaches alike, as the men remembered, with gratitude, those who invested in and made a difference in their life.

 

May we, too, accept the challenge to be the change.

 

 

‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3;12, 14