See if you can cheer for your team without cheering against the other team.
See if you can talk calmly to fans of the other team.
See if you can praise them when their team defeats yours.
See if you can do so without making excuses. There are times when something goes amiss & costs a team a game. A bad call. A lighting issue. Sudden downpour. But those events are VERY, VERY rare. Usually, the team that plays the best on that day wins the game.
See if you can honor & respect their traditions without mocking them.
See if you can support your team as much when they don't win as when they do. (I was in Tuscaloosa when the Tide had our first losing season in decades. It was NO fun losing game after game...but OTOH, I *was* still watching football, the game I love so very dearly...and I didn't miss a game, despite expecting to lose many of them.)
See if you can always keep in mind that a college football game is, well a game...Do you & I really want to base so much of our self-worth & mood & attitude & how we treat our friends & neighbors on the outcome of a bunch of 18-22 year olds running into each other at high speeds??
See if you can be a positive, classy representative for the school(s) whose team(s) you happen to support. In other words, be that guy/lady, about whom others say "you know, if _________(your school name) had more fans like that guy/lady, I'd be more favorably disposed toward them"...
bb
p.s. - if you're wondering, I am chief of sinners here. This blog is aimed first at me; if it challenges any of the rest of you, well,...you're welcome? Sorry? *grin*
p.p.s. - Please hold me accountable for this stuff, and feel free to let me know if you hear me straying from this challenge.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Romans 12:18
2 comments:
I am going to print this out and give it to Gabriel & Ken to read. They are sinners #2 and #3 !! ha ha
You know, I was someplace the other day and had a conversation with a lady. Of COURSE the topic of football came up, because, well, I live in Alabama! She asked which team I rooted for and I told her. She said something that wasn't so polite about my team, then said, 'what about you?' So, I responded the best way I knew how, which was honestly.
I told her that I had grown up wishing the other team would always lose and there was probably part of me that still did...but the more I teach high school and root for KIDS playing the game, the more I want them to do well. I CAN root for my team and still hope the players on the other team do well. She just looked at me. She didn't answer.
One of the proudest moments of my teaching career came this past Friday night when one of my very favorite students (yes, I know we shouldn't have them, but I DO!) was selected to be a captain for the George Co. vs Greene Co. game. I am SO proud of him! He has come SO far since he was a tenth grader. I wish this for ALL of them.
Now, ask me this again at the end of November and I might not answer so well.
Love
Christy G.
P.S Thanks for this post!!!
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