What role does sportsmanship and ethical behavior play in professional sports

By Tucker Johns

What is Sportsmanship

• Sportsmanship can be defined as the behavior of participants in a game or athletic event

Owners and Coaches

• The Jimmy Fund is a very popular subject when it comes to sportsmanship in coaches. John Farrell owner of the Boston Red Sox created this fund to support adult and pediatric cancer care. John Farrell is a very respectable man for doing this, saving the lives of these people.

Owners and Coaches Cont.

• It’s a personal matter for John because he himself has been battling cancer so he would like to give back to those going through the same as him.

Health and Safety

• Now a days you see a lot of freak accidents the involve players getting badly injured while playing a sport. It may not necessarily be in relation to a big hit or something, it could be as simple as stepping wrong and twisting your leg, tearing your ACL.

Health and Safety Cont.

• This could also revolve around huge hits in physical sports like hockey and lacrosse. It may be a clean hit not intentionally trying to hurt the person, but there may also be people who seek to hurt.

Athletes and Community

• Magic Johnson is a perfect example of an athlete having a positive impact on the community. Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and he impacted the acceptance of victims of HIV. He’s targeting mainly the youth, saying things like “All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody whoe believes in them.”

Athletes and Community Cont.

• Magic Johnson shows the youth community that no matter what happens all you need is that drive to over come it, and anything is possible to overcome with the support.

Fan Behavior

• Fans should not act inappropriate at public sporting event. They are going to support their team and not harass the other team. Screaming/yelling derogatory things at the other team is no expectable, only things like “nice job” or “nice try” should be said.

Fan Behavior Cont.

• Its acceptable to be favorable to one specific team, but that means you should only be supporting you’re team. Positive reinforcement, telling them nice game and such.

Conclusion

• I think overall, sportsmanship is increasing in professional sports. They are starting to realize how important it is and have even started to incorporate trophies for sportsmanship at the end of the seasons for teams/players that deserve them. Also fans are starting to realize if they are respectable, they wont get kicked out of games!