On the first non-football weekend of 2022, sports fans were treated to a far less ethical degree of fanfare. At the conclusion of CBS\u2019s nationally televised NCAA basketball game between the universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, the Wolverines\u2019 head coach Juwan Howard struck the face of a Badgers\u2019 assistant while going through the end-of-game handshake line. The incident immediately intensified, with three players proceeding to throw punches at their opponents on the hardwood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, the moment was awful. At the end of a game \u2014 yes, by definition basketball is still a game \u2014<\/em> grown men who coach almost grown men couldn\u2019t handle their emotions respectfully. No wise one wants to see such happen. Hence, to deter a repeated scenario, not only have fines and suspensions been handed down, but many have called for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the calls for more to keep this from happening again \u2014 advocated for by multiple high-profile athletes or commentators, such as by Rex Chapman, Patrick Ewing, and ESPN\u2019s Dick Vitale \u2014 is to eliminate the handshake line at the end of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Vitale opined, \u201cToo many incidents!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let\u2019s get this clear\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The handshake line is an age-old, orderly practice of demonstrating good sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is good. Sportsmanship means treating one another with respect \u2014 never teasing or bullying, never whining or making excuses, being fair, encouraging, and generous, and taking pride in a win but absolutely never rubbing it in…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Good game\u2026 It\u2019s over\u2026 May we be gracious in victory or defeat\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Graciousness. Regardless of who wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yet, isn\u2019t the whole thought of getting rid of the handshake line a microcosm of all that\u2019s wrong with society today?\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n People are actually encouraging <\/em>not <\/em><\/strong>practicing sportsmanship<\/em> \u2014 not practicing what is good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So let’s get this straight. People behave poorly so in order to deal with behavior we know to be less good, <\/strong>we lower our expectations for them. We no longer adhere to a cultural standard of what\u2019s good and right and true\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why be respectful?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Why be gracious? <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not even whine, make excuses and rub it in?\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We see it in all sorts of contexts and in various arenas. We see it in coaches and players\u2026 pundits and politicians\u2026 activists and celebrities\u2026 so-called leaders… and far too many on social media\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n I realize that the handshake line may be hard when the competition has been fierce and some of the tactics have been perceived to be brutal. I realize it\u2019s not always a pleasure to greet kindly the one who has bested me that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we are missing out as a society when we begin to let any of the above serve as justification for lowering the ethical, behavioral bar. We are making culture worse \u2014 meaning more polarized, less empathetic, less honoring of other people \u2014 when we no longer advocate for sportsmanship. Regardless of victory or defeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The widely respected Michigan State coach, Tom Izzo, agrees. \u201cNo shaking hands, that\u2019s typical of our country right now. Instead of solving the problem, let\u2019s make an excuse and let\u2019s see if we can just \u2014 instead of confronting and demanding that it changes \u2014 let\u2019s eliminate it so that we don\u2019t have those problems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Exactly. Coaches and players. Pundits, politicians, activists, celebrities, leaders and all of us on social media\u2026 we\u2019re not solving any problems when we lower the behavioral bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s expect better from one another. From self, too. May respect and graciousness never be a lesser priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On the first non-football weekend of 2022, sports fans were treated to a far less ethical degree of fanfare. At the conclusion of CBS\u2019s nationally televised NCAA basketball game between the universities of Michigan and Wisconsin, the Wolverines\u2019 head coach Juwan Howard struck the face of a Badgers\u2019 assistant while going through the end-of-game handshake … <\/p>\n