From our Battle of the Fans finalists ...
March 29, 2012
This winter's inaugural "Battle of the Fans" was about recognizing the top student cheering section in the state of Michigan.
But it also provided valuable lessons about sportsmanship and made every gym a classroom where they could be taught and learned.
The video below includes clips from all five finalists' videos shot by MHSAA staff and used in the judging for the contest. It played on the Breslin Center scoreboard before each of the Semifinals and championship games of the Girls and Boys Basketball Finals over the last two weekends.
If you were there, you no doubt caught at least a glimpse. If not, check it out below.
“How” Matters More
March 4, 2014
“It’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.” We’ve all heard that bromide, especially when we were just starting out as young athletes.
Well, it does matter who wins. Any time a score is kept, the result of the competition matters to people. And there is very much that is very good about trying to win – giving one’s best effort to prepare for and execute a victory. Trying to win is much better than not trying to win. Sloppy effort does not benefit the participants, or anybody else for that matter.
And this unveils the deeper truth of that tiresome platitude: how you play the game is more important than who wins the game.
One of many events that proves this point to me is a football game played late in the season nearly two decades ago. A team from the east side of our state played against a team from the west side. I don’t remember the final score. I don’t remember which team won the game. But I do remember that there was an ugly incident at the end of the game.
How that game was played in its closing moments has stayed with me for longer than who was victorious.