The death of competition and common sense
Will Wojcik
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Opinion
Have we regressed into a sissy state? Have we become so concerned with being fair that we have relaxed our competitive spirit? In a recent Texas high school women's basketball game, The Covenant School, a private Christian school, defeated Dallas Academy 100 - 0.
The girls played with spirit that could be felt by all those in the crowd cheering them on. As the girls began reaching the 100 point mark, the crowd grew louder and louder. The girls played more and more fierce. The Covenant School reached the 100-point mark and decided to ease up and went easy on their competitors.
Now, nearly a week later, The Covenant School has issued an apology for winning and said they would agree to declare a forfeit of the game. For those of you that are asking what it is that you just read, let me go back over it. The Covenant played well and showed talent and won a game. After winning, they felt bad for the losing team and said that they were sorry for beating them. Have we become so concerned with being politically correct that we are worried to make anyone feel bad?
What's wrong with having a winner and a loser? When I was younger I played baseball for my local recreation center. When we played, we had fun and played to win. At the end of our season, all the teams would get together and trophies and awards were handed out to the best teams and players. Not all kids were given a trophy and not all of the trophies were the same size.
There was an obvious competition to be the best. Sure, some kids left with their feelings hurt by not receiving the biggest trophy, but it was obvious that those who got the trophies deserved them. Today, in many children's sports leagues, all of the kids get a trophy and all of the trophies are the same size. The awards are given out in a way that will make all the kids feel good about themselves and no one will feel better than anyone else.
This does not only praise mediocrity and a lack of competition, but it gives kids the idea that everyone is just as capable as everyone else. According to this practice, everyone has the same talents and no one person will excel more then others. Come on. The world is not perfect. We are all given different talents and abilities and we put these talents to use throughout our lives. Teaching our kids that it is fine to just be OK sets them up for failure later on in life.
By not valuing competition, we show that it is wrong to try and be the best. God created us all different, with different skills and capabilities. He created us all different so that we can put our different skills, whatever they may be, to use so that we can contribute to our community.
We cannot allow ourselves to create a society that shames those that have talent. By scorning others accomplishments we set up our society for failure. We need to embrace our differences and make sure to highlight the accomplishments of those around us. In doing so, we ensure the continuing competition to create a bigger and better community. So congratulations Covenant School. Your unbelievable decimation of Dallas Academy should be celebrated and rewarded, not hated on. Kudos on your 100-0 win, Covenant School. You victory is truly remarkable.
The girls played with spirit that could be felt by all those in the crowd cheering them on. As the girls began reaching the 100 point mark, the crowd grew louder and louder. The girls played more and more fierce. The Covenant School reached the 100-point mark and decided to ease up and went easy on their competitors.
Now, nearly a week later, The Covenant School has issued an apology for winning and said they would agree to declare a forfeit of the game. For those of you that are asking what it is that you just read, let me go back over it. The Covenant played well and showed talent and won a game. After winning, they felt bad for the losing team and said that they were sorry for beating them. Have we become so concerned with being politically correct that we are worried to make anyone feel bad?
What's wrong with having a winner and a loser? When I was younger I played baseball for my local recreation center. When we played, we had fun and played to win. At the end of our season, all the teams would get together and trophies and awards were handed out to the best teams and players. Not all kids were given a trophy and not all of the trophies were the same size.
There was an obvious competition to be the best. Sure, some kids left with their feelings hurt by not receiving the biggest trophy, but it was obvious that those who got the trophies deserved them. Today, in many children's sports leagues, all of the kids get a trophy and all of the trophies are the same size. The awards are given out in a way that will make all the kids feel good about themselves and no one will feel better than anyone else.
This does not only praise mediocrity and a lack of competition, but it gives kids the idea that everyone is just as capable as everyone else. According to this practice, everyone has the same talents and no one person will excel more then others. Come on. The world is not perfect. We are all given different talents and abilities and we put these talents to use throughout our lives. Teaching our kids that it is fine to just be OK sets them up for failure later on in life.
By not valuing competition, we show that it is wrong to try and be the best. God created us all different, with different skills and capabilities. He created us all different so that we can put our different skills, whatever they may be, to use so that we can contribute to our community.
We cannot allow ourselves to create a society that shames those that have talent. By scorning others accomplishments we set up our society for failure. We need to embrace our differences and make sure to highlight the accomplishments of those around us. In doing so, we ensure the continuing competition to create a bigger and better community. So congratulations Covenant School. Your unbelievable decimation of Dallas Academy should be celebrated and rewarded, not hated on. Kudos on your 100-0 win, Covenant School. You victory is truly remarkable.
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