|
Speaking |
|
|
7/30/07 ‘Be
careful with your reputation, In the highly commercialized, over-saturated world of sport, athletes have become more self-aggrandizing than ever. They believe they have entitlements, or they are above the law. Even on the High School Level, with media coverage so prevalent, athletes strut as if they think they are pros, and some become highly offended and jealous when something good happens to one of their teammates. That’s the part I laugh about, the hypocrisy. One teammate will say nice things to their teammates face, then turn around and backstab them when they are not around. In a small fishbowl like Novi, word always circles back, and to the people that think they are too cool for school, you’re not fooling anybody. We live in a wonderful community, but let’s not get mixed up. For many folks, your passions are enflamed if you think somebody else is getting more attention than you are, or your kids are. The typical reaction seems to involve belittling the individual or their accomplishment, when they are not there to defend themselves. You people know who you are… own it. Fortunately, the offenders are in the minority. Which makes the Alex Lyall story all the more refreshing. A Novi HS student, and a successful member of the golf team, Alex recently competed in the US Junior National Golf Championship in Augusta, Missouri. Without getting technical, Lyall found himself in a dilemma in which he might have been subject to a self-assessed penalty stroke. While the action would be honorable, it could possibly cost him a chance at making the cut. But, golf is an honorable game played by gentlemen, and even though no one was watching, Alex Lyall took the penalty, carded a bogey and continued his round. Fortunately, the extra stroke did not cost him a chance to make the cut, and as it turned out, he advanced. Given the fact the sports pages have been graced with the likes of Barry Bonds, Michael Vick and Gary Sheffield, et al for all the wrong reasons, the old axiom quoted by the late great Heywood Hale Broun is more prevalent than ever; “Sports may not build character, but they certainly reveal it” By focusing on his personal situation only and taking full responsibility for an event that was no fault of his own, Alex Lyall did something that is far more valuable than taking home a trophy. He provided an example to follow for athletes that want to be somebody for the proper reasons. He didn’t seem to be overly concerned that another golfer might get more attention, he simply wasn’t going to cheat in order to earn a hollow victory that someone would end up being jealous about later. In the end, Lyall’s example showed there’s a right way to conduct your affairs, and a wrong way as well. Even, if nobody’s watching… (c) 2007 Novi
Information Network ___________________________________ |
|
