FanPost

Tako Tuesdays: Sports Morality


The controversial end to the Ghana-Uruguay World Cup semifinal has sparked debate about the morality of sports.  For the record, I had no problem with the handball.  Suarez knew the consequences and made a play that ultimately saved the game for Uruguay.  But I can see the other side of the argument, that it was chicken-s*** and a slimy way to win.  The question is this; what is the most important thing in sports: winning, or doing the right thing?

THE ARGUMENT FOR WINNING

        The object of sports is to win.  It's that simple.  Just like high school, no one cares about a loser.  Why do you think so many people like the Yankees, Cowboys, and Lakers?  Because they win.  And it's not like you have to cheat to win.  Was Suarez's handball cheating?  No!  There are consequences built in to the rules of the sport, just like penalties in football, fouling in basketball, or HGH in baseball pre-2005.  Why should George Steinbrenner be chastised for spending his own money to win championships?  It's not about fairness, it's about who wants it more.  And don't try to say that this is a new development.  Ty Cobb, Wilt Chamberlain, and Reggie Jackson were all "me first" guys who didn't care about pleasing anyone, and yet managed to win, and win a lot.  You want sports to teach lessons for life?  Well life isn't fair, and is run by the people with money.  Sports isn't any different.

THE ARGUMENT FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING

Being a professional athlete in this age of instant news carries tremendous responsibility.  Everything you say and do is tracked and scrutinized, and any misstep permanently changes your public image.  Sure, a team can win by using dirty players and dirty tactics.  But the real heroes are the ones that capture the hearts and souls of their fans by playing within the rules and being ideal role models for the millions of young sports fans around the country.  Players like Tim Duncan, Albert Pujols, and Ken Griffey, Jr. have found success in sport while at the same time promoting team play, community involvement, and preserving the game for the next generation of athletes.  A team can buy a championship.  But it doesn't taste as sweet as earning one.

 

Where do I stand?  I believe that athletes should respect the game they play and consider the ramifications of their actions, but all sports are ultimately about winning, and any athlete will give everything they can to help their team win. Where on the spectrum of sports morality do you lie?  Leave your answer in the comments.  

 

Keg Stickers

In looking through the standings, I see that Dom, Paul, and Jeremy don't yet have a Keg Sticker.  I'm pretty sure they've done something Keg-worthy this year.

Matt Daddy - 5
Bill Musgrave - 5
Addicted to Quack - 5
Gorbachav5 - 4
Takimoto - 4
JShufelt - 4
JonathanPDX - 3
axemen23 - 2
trumpetduck - 2
AllSaintsDay - 2
HoodRiverDuck - 2
qrsouther - 2
echo31 - 2
benzduck - 1
QuackinAK - 1
ntrebon - 1
CaDuck - 1
scudderfan - 1
Mrs. Gorby - 1
MiracleWolf - 1
keeerrrttt - 1
DuckFanAndy - 1
dannyoneil94 - 1
hazmat5793 - 1
Tim Tebow - 1
FishDuck - 1
Papa Tako - 1
dvieira - 1
PaulSF - 1
JConant - 1

 

Make Tako Write Something Ridiculous!

Because I want to challenge myself (and definitely not because I'm running out of things to write about), I'd like you, the readers, to leave the Tako Tuesday topic you've always wanted to read in the comments section.  I'll pick my favorite one on Friday and write it over the weekend.  And no Matt Daddy, I will not pick anything to do with David Hasselhoff.

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