WHAT ROLE DOES SPORTSMANSHIP AND

ETHICAL BEHAVIOR PLAY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS?

By: Kevin Wagner

WHAT IS SPORTSMANSHIP?

• Sportsmanship can be described as the ethical and integral actions shown by a player in a sporting environment.

• Three words essential for proper sportsmanship are: Honesty, Respect, and Integrity.

• Sportsmanship is crucial in all areas of all sports. Successful athletes are ones who exhibit proper sportsmanship to others and to the game.

ETHICS- OWNERS AND COACHES

• Coaches and owners are held to the highest standards when referring to sportsmanship.

• Coaches and owners are the highest representation for a team and should be treated like it.

• Robert Kraft is an ideal example of a coach who exhibits proper sportsmanship and represents his team well.

COACHES AND OWNERS (CONT.)

• Coaches and owners who exhibit poor sportsmanship are detrimental to a sports franchise’s reputation.

• Former Los Angeles Clipper’s owner Donald Sterling repeatedly used racial slurs and disrespect in his daily life.

• As a result of his profanity and inappropriate language, his franchise and himself both took major hits.

ETHICS- HEALTH AND SAFETY

• While it may not appear to be at first, sportsmanship has a major effect on the health and safety of professional athletes.

• Athletes who exhibit poor sportsmanship are subject to major criticism from other players and fans.

• Athletes may also be subject to “targeting” by other players or threats by fans for their lack of sportsmanship.

ETHICS- ATHLETES AND COMMUNITY

• As professional athletes, players are expected to not only contribute on the field, but off the field as well.

• Players serve as role models to many around the world. It is an athlete’s responsibility to give back to their community for all of the support that athlete has received.

• An athlete’s success hinges on their ability to fulfill their responsibilities to their teams and to their communities.

ATHLETES AND COMMUNITY (CONT.)

• As history has shown us, many athletes fail to live up to the expectations of being a professional athlete.

• As a result, their popularity plummets and their success as an individual suffers.

• Numerous baseball players in MLB history have been caught for using performance-enhancing drugs. Due to their lack of integrity, almost all of those player shave been excluded from the Baseball Hall of Fame, no matter how impressive their stats appear to be.

ETHICS- FAN BEHAVIOR

• Fan behavior is one of the more controversial aspects of professional sports.• Fans are allowed the right to root for whoever they choose. However, they

should never use racial slurs or threats against any player.• Fans should always cheer passionately for their team but they should never

cross the line and venture into personal or inappropriate remarks.

FAN BEHAVIOR (CONT.)

• One major topic regarding fan behavior refers to the constant switching of teams based off of short term success.

• Society today refers to these as “fake fans” or part of a “bandwagon.”• Unless a fan has been born and raised to cheer for their local sports team,

fans around the world are subject to criticism no matter who they root for.

EXAMPLES OF BEHAVIOR

IN SPORTS

Grayson Allen pictured left is always a topic of conversation nationally when referring to

sportsmanship. He is widely criticized for his efforts to trip others. As a result, outside of Duke Men’s Basketball fans, Allen is hated nationwide.Thomas Davis pictured right is one of the lesser

known athletes who give back to their communities. He has been awarded The Bart Starr award given to athletes who exemplify

leadership on the field. He was also the recipient of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his

contributions to his community.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

• All humans have the ability to choose what they want for themselves. If one so pleases to journey through life not caring and disrespecting others, they will suffer from the consequences. Others who choose to be respectful individuals, full of integrity and honesty, will find success in whatever they choose to do. Being a professional athlete requires a person to fulfill their responsibilities to a greater good. Whether they choose to do that is completely up to them. To be a professional athlete and to be that role model for the younger generation requires honesty, respect, and integrity. Without those, athletes are destined to fail to adapt to the responsibilities of being a professional athlete.