sports·man·ship: fair and generous behavior or treatment of others, especially in a sports contest (Oxford Dictionary).
In recent years, sportsmanship has been a hot topic in sports because of the numerous incidents of bad sportsmanship that has made the news cycle all too often. Bad sportsmanship has been on of the main reasons we are currently seeing the shortage of officials across all sports.
Back when Bobby Orr served as an honorary coach during a few Summer Games in the mid-1990s, he wrote a guest column on sportsmanship that was published in pretty much every local newspaper. Titled "Sports don't always mean winning and losing," Orr discussed the importance of the values that come from sport - teamwork, discipline, and self-esteem. As we all know, Bobby Orr is one of the greatest ice hockey players of all-time. He spent the majority of his life at this point in and around sports. He knows a thing or two.
Orr says, "I believe we all have the great opportunity to help mold young people's lives through sports - as parents, volunteers, sponsors , and as fans." This article was written almost 30 years ago, but his words still ring true and are extremely relevant to the current landscape of sport.
Beginning in 2003, the Bay State Games created a “sportsmanship initiative” which was implemented into the annual Summer Games. It was created to educate Bay State Games participants on the elements of good sportsmanship. In it's early days, this program was presented by New Balance. Since 2022, Bay State Games, alongside DICK'S Sporting Goods will recognize athletes & teams who are role models for sportsmanship. This programs aims to help curb the incivility we are seeing in sports among players, coaches, & spectators.
For more on the Sportsmanship Initiative, click here.
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Previous Posts:
Week 37 - A Discussion on Bay State Games with Dave McGillivary
Week 36 - Berkshire Hero
Week 35 - BSG 35th Anniversary (2016)
Week 34 - 1996 Winter Games
Week 33 - Nancy Kerrigan
Week 32 - BSG Alumni (Winter)
Week 31 - BSG Alumni (Summer)
Week 30 - BSG 30th Anniversary (2011)
Week 29 - 1998 Winter Games
Week 28 - 2009 Top Shots
Week 27 - BSG Internship
Week 26 - BSG T-shirts
Week 25 - BSG 25th Anniversary (2006)
Week 24 - Future Leaders Scholarship
Week 23 - Athlete of the Year
Week 22 - 1988 Top Shots
Week 21 - 1998 Top Shots
Week 20 - BSG 20th Anniversary (2001)
Week 19 - 40th Top Shots
Week 18 - Rugby Joins the Games
Week 17 - Entry Books
Week 16 - Standin' in the Hall of Fame
Week 14 - Time to Showcase
Week 13 - Title IX
Week 12 - BSG Summer Figure Skating
Week 11 - BSG No-No
Week 10 - BSG 10th Anniversary (1991)
Week 9 - BSG Logos
Week 8 - Bikes Only
Week 7: Seeing Double at Track & Field
Week 6 - Pat Connaughton, Baseball Star
Week 5 - 1996 Summer Games Top Shots
Week 4 - Spot the Hall of Famer
Week 3 - Let's Jump!
Week 2 - 1994 Top Shots
Week 1 - Light the Cauldron