Thursday, April 7, 2011


I am going on a major rant!

I have been contemplating this topic for a while now, and have avoided it because it is a little touchy, but after the last few weeks I have decided to go ahead with it. At first I thought I would approach cautiously and avoid naming names. After further consideration I decided what the heck, I can name all the names I want. There is this little piece of paper called the constitution that says I can! So please feel free to agree or disagree or call me names. I can take it!

I have watched a lot of sports over a lot of years. I have watched one of my boys win a state championship and I have watched another play four years on a GHS team and NEVER win a region game.
In January I was at Wasatch High School for Divisional wrestling when I noticed this sign and felt compelled to take a picture.

So yes now I am getting to my point....
I watched Brennon step off a wrestling mat with tears in his eyes. NOT because he had lost but because the other young man was saying vulgar things (while they were wrestling!) and calling him some of the most horrible names I have heard in my 37 years! When Brennon informed this boys coach, he just blew Bren off and hugged his wrestler.

Last week after watching our own GHS Soccer team suffer a hard loss (with a few questionable calls, ok ok they just sucked!) A few of OUR boys refused to shake a particular refs hand.

I wont go into to many details but after some stomping, screaming, and crying. I made it very clear to my family that I will not tolerate this.
There will always be a winner
There will always be a loser
There will ALWAYS be bad calls!



I remember Bear River for turning car lights in our boys eyes during football games, and more recently when they were beating us at soccer with a score of 8-0 they were still cartwheeling and honking after EVERY goal. And never once did they pull out their 11 senior starters.

I remember Ben Lomand for yelling and taunting their own players because they were only beating Grantsville by 4. And parents yelling that they expected the score to be 15-0 by the time it was over. And even after they were up by 9 they were still trying to "take out" our goalie.

I remember Juan Diego for getting up by a few goals and then taking out their starters. I remember them for helping our players up and asking if they were ok!  The only other thing they could have done was given one of their boys a Cowboy Jersey and sent him out to help us! ;)
Now I know some of you are saying... sure it's easy to be a good sport when you always win. NOT TRUE they rarely won a wrestling match and still helped boys up and patted backs and encouraged our boys!

I remember Devon telling me after a hard loss to Judge "mom, it's really hard to hate them, even after that big guy layed me out, he helped me up and said "wow that was a great hit dude"

I am all about healthy competition, and winning whenever possible,
but I would like to encourage all my Cowboys.... No matter what team you are on....
your name...
your team...
your school...
your community...
with...








6 comments:

Krista said...

Thanks for posting this Heather ... it's soooo true!

When Ty was awarded All-State, all the coaches patted the players on the back ... and then the Juan Diego coach stood. He told those young men that NO ONE cared if they were All-State ... that in fact, no one would even remember. Then he went on to say that the thing people will remember is how you treated them. It was so awesome, I wish everyone could have heard it.

I think we could all use a little more sportsmanship. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe you could give a sermon at an assembly or something ... I'm serious!

I love you Friend and you've raised GREAT boys!

keysha said...

Beautifully said...and this needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!! I agree with Krista. :)

Kami said...

You could not have said it better! Can you send this to every Cowboy who is or wants to play on a sports team. I think everyone could use a good reminder of what is important!

lisa said...

WOW! All I have to say to that is AMEN sista! I think you should tell everyone your thoughts. You are an awesome person, Heather. Well said! Lisa G.

Lacey Sue said...

Your amazing, for posting this, and for teaching your family the way to "represent" the right way! I remember how it felt to watch poor sportsmanship when I was in high school- its embarrassing- no matter which side your on- the ones doing it or the ones watching it.
I think you've hit the nail on the head....teach the kids to represent with pride in themselves, their team, their school, and their community! Thanks for the post!!!

Carolynn said...

Awesome...I wish so many more people had this perspective!Thanks for sharing!