After completing the discussion question for this week, I decided to blog a little more about the issue. When it comes to an opponent, I see them as just that, my competition. It's not about personal relationships or anything else when I'm out there on the court or the field. In high school I never really considered the possibility of starting a friendship with my opponent. They were just the other team, the other school. Thinking back even, we never had a solid opportunity to try and make friends anyways. Before the game you were warming up and trying to stay focused. Then after the game you were slapping hands, changing, then boarding the bus or heading home. I think it might be a good thing for you to not be friends with the opposing team anyways. It will keep you focused and you have nothing else to worry about.
In college I once played intramural basketball. It was a lot of fun and we were good and even won the championship, but even though I had the opportunity, I still never took the time to make friends. I think it's just a mental thing for me. Opponent does not equal friend.
Another thing we discussed was respect for one another. I believe you should always give the other players the utmost respect. They are out there playing their hardest, just like you. Respecting your opponent is just like showing your respect for the game. I love basketball and I would never want to compromise it. However, you have to give respect to get it. So if there are other girls on the court throwing elbows and getting away with dirty plays, then they just lost my respect. The game should be played with integrity in my opinion!
Also on a side note, my dad got me Cavs tickets! I will be attending the last Cavs home game of the season (Fan Appreciation Night) on April 15th versus the 76ers!!
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I agree with you that we should always give our opponents the most respect we can. You never know when you will see those people outside of competition. Trying to create enemies is probably no way to participate in athletic competition. With this, I think it is very difficult for people to really respect their opponent and not see them as the "enemy." Like I mentioned in my discussion answer, I tihnk kids are often raised to look at the opponent as an "enemy" rather than a friend.
ReplyDeletePS GO CAVS!! Have fun!
Throughout my experiences in sports the opponent was just that; an opponent, not an enemy. To me there is a difference. An opponent is someone you are trying to beat at a game, but you remain respectful to the player in the sense that you aren't trying to do anyone physical harm. An enemy is one that we don't wouldn't care about and would be throwing elbows or whatever during a basketball game for instance. I think we should be respectful, but sometimes we might use things such as trash talk to get into an opponents head, but it shouldn't be taken personal. It is just like how Ali would beat boxers with his head games. In a sense it is part of sports. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhen I posted my opinion on this topic on the class discussion board I kind of had the same feelings as you did. I feel that if you possibly know a player on another team and are good friends then you could go out to dinner after a game. However, during a game I do not make friends I see them as an "enemy," who I am supposed to bet at the game I am playing to win. I also agree fully with you on the respect level you should have for your teammates and opponents.
ReplyDeleteI also have to agree with you that it is hard to make friends with opposing teams. In high school i never really thought about making friends with teams I played. I guess there was some chances I could of but I decided to let them pass by. I also agree there is a level of respect you have to have but that does not mean you have to be best friends with them.
ReplyDeleteps. thats awesome about the tickets!!
I've participated in a wide variety of sports, and, like you, have never seen an opponent as a 'friend' figure. The way that I saw it, the opponent was the competition, and the only thing standing between me and winning the sport. Respect should be shown to all opponents, but to me, that's as far as it goes, because my main focus is on winning and playing to the best of my ability, not making a new friend.
ReplyDeleteI loved your statement that: "Opponent does not equal friend." That pretty much sums it up for me as a competitive tennis player. I used to have this saying by Vince Lombardi pasted to my racket: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing!"
ReplyDeleteOne thing that has not yet been mentioned is that people can sometimes have TOO much respect for an opponent. I remember the first few times I played "seeded" players in a tournament, and was in awe of them. I almost went into the match with the expectation that I could not win, because they were expected to win. When Herb Brooks coached the 1980 U.S. Men's Hockey team, he found that he had to make light of the Russian team so that his players would not think of them so highly. We will be seeing that video in class this week (hopefully!).
By the way, I am envious of your having tickets to see the Cavs last home game. I was thinking of going myself, but I have these classes the next day:-)
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