A Win For Sport
Nothwithstanding the expected focus of the linked news outlet, most news organizations in the world were universally hailing Adam Scott’s victory at this year’s Masters golf tournament. The way the tournament ended pushed all of the other sub dramas surrounding the event way back into the asterisk category.
While even the casual observer can appreciate the drama that unfolded between Angel Cabrera and Adam Scott in the fading light of Augusta this past Sunday afternoon, only those that have been tortured by the game of golf will appreciate the turbulent emotions that undoubtedly consumed the two men during the final duel. Little of this was obvious as they both outwardly suppressed their raging emotions to remain focused to engage the task at hand. And of course, there was the now famous mutual thumbs up gestures they exchanged in response to each other’s clutch shot making, first by Angel then by Adam, displaying sportsmanship and grace under pressure that we seldom witness anymore in the world of sports.
And there it was. That moment forever defined for those who had never seen it, the meaning of the word sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is not about victory. It is not about winning at any cost by any means possible. It is not about money. It is not about puerile displays of gamesmanship. Sportsmanship is about competing at the highest level against others who are at their highest level and dueling in the spirit of mutual respect for others’ skills. The eventual victory will be meaningful only because it was against a worthy opponent. The defeat, while painful, will not be devastating because it came at the hands of a superior opponent…that day. As the old cliche goes, it’s how you play the game.
Over the generations, sports in general have moved further and further away from the concept of sportsmanship. Marketing and culture has changed the focus of competition to the extent that winning has become the only relevant outcome. Sport is big business. Nevertheless, I’m sure that most who watched the final duel between Scott and Cabrera appreciated the display of sportsmanship that was so aptly demonstrated by them, a rare event in today’s commercial sporting world. The headlines will say that Scott won the Masters, but just as significant was the victory for sportsmanship.