What is sportsmanship? Pearcy, Arkansas will show you

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Sportsmanship. It’s a word that is easy to toss around as something athletes and fans should all just “have.”

But, if you think about it, it’s a bit difficult to define exactly what it is. Is chanting during a free throw unsportsmanlike, or just part of the game? Is talking a little smack to your opponent a sign of a poor sport, or just part of competing? I’m not sure you can exactly define it. But, I know it when I see it.

If you haven’t seen it already, go find the clip of Andy Tolleson from the Lake Hamilton School District in Pearcy, Arkansas. Andy is a senior basketball manager for the boys basketball team. During their senior night game on Feb. 15, Andy was allowed to suit up and take the floor as one of the five starters. He was quickly subbed out, saluted, and the game went on as usual. However, what happened at the end was terrific.

Andy was put back in the game with under two minutes left, where he then proceeded to hit not one, but TWO, three point shots. While that’s a terrific moment in and of itself, it’s what the opponents did that will give you confidence that our world maybe isn’t as screwed up as we sometimes think it is.

In a game that they were losing by 19 points, the opponents that evening made Andy’s night special. Twice, they advanced the ball up the court, but allowed Andy to make a steal. As he progressed the other direction, the opponents encouraged him, and one even fell over due to Andy’s crossover dribble.

When the first three-pointer was swished, the boys on the other team were just as excited as the home fans were. They proceeded to give Andy the ball again, and allowed him to continue his moment. Again he zipped up the court, and after a crazy bounce on a last second three pointer allowed his second shot to go in, both teams stormed the court and surrounded the longtime student manager.

Simply put, the opposing coaches and players didn’t need to do that. And, if they did, they certainly didn’t need to show genuine emotion for someone else. Losing stinks. To be mature enough to realize that while the game certainly does matter, other things matter far more. The moment that they created for someone else is something that they’ll remember far more vividly than one random loss in their high school careers.

Seeing teenage boys show that level of maturity makes other situations that more frustrating. A Big Ten conference coach literally open-hand slapped an opposing coach during a handshake line in the same week. While I’m not always the best sport when I lose, I certainly have never taken a swing at an opponent. Absolutely embarrassing. How can high schoolers figure this out, while a multi-million dollar head coach (and former NBA player) simply cannot?

Kudos to all of the players, fans, and coaches for being tremendous sports down in Arkansas. Go find the video, it’ll make your day.