Standing Up for Sportsmanship in West Virginia

Written by Jason Keeling on June 15, 2011

Athletics provide a favorite pastime for many West Virginians. Whether participating or spectating, sports offer us an outlet to break from everyday demands and enjoy the excitement of competition.

Parallels are often drawn between life and the games we play. To be successful requires preparation, dedication, teamwork, perseverance and execution. However, a key element within this equation is defining success.

Unfortunately, today’s sports culture has devolved somewhat into a place where winning is worshiped and losing is detested. Given the hundreds of millions spent marketing the “winners” of professional and college sports, it’s easy to be conditioned into thinking victory is the sole definition of success.

From Loss to Victory

Last year’s game ending playoff brawl between Hurricane and South Charleston high school football players marked a low point in West Virginia sports history. Benches cleared, fans jeered, suspensions ensued, and the state Supreme Court ultimately weighed in on the matter. It was an ugly series of events; in essence, everyone lost.

Months later, it’s refreshing to see several of the players embroiled in the above controversy have been brought together by the same sport that originally divided them.

In preparation for the North-South Football Classic, they have put the melee behind them, the Charleston Gazette’s Mitch Vingle reports. In fact, they’ve actually become friends to a certain degree, taking time to discuss the incident, apologize, and realize commonalities supersede their differences.

The future holds much opportunity for these young men, and it seems they’ve learned a lot since last November. Such maturity will help them achieve victory in the most important challenge they’ll face, the game of life.

Posted in Culture, West Virginia