Competition

Throughout my life, I have heard the cliche' about sports for youngsters teaching real-world lessons and building character. Having coached for over thirty years and having a son who is active in at least three sports, I do agree. However, many poeple speak about this dynamic as if sports are the only venue in which these real-world lessons can be learned and in which character can be built. Nonsense! From this fallacy we get the silly "competition" TV shows I see promoted on every channel and for every night. Life is not a "zero sum" game in which someone else must fail in order for me to succeed. This consciousness, which I see growing in my students and in the culture, is saddening.