2008 Woodie Awards
Letter to the Editor: Go, fight, win and cheer with good sportsmanship in mind
Issue date: 11/30/05 Section: Commentary
- Page 1 of 1
I am a Southwest Minnesota State University alumna, and had the most wonderful opportunity to attend some wheelchair basketball games at SMSU the weekend of Nov. 19. Their game against Oklahoma State University Saturday was a game that will forever be etched in my memory. The players from SMSU and OSU played their hearts out and it was a battle to right until the last few minutes.
Wheelchair basketball is an amazing sport, and if you have not had the opportunity to attend a game, you are missing out. Go out and support the SMSU Rolling Mustangs at their next game.
However, if you are going to cheer on the Mustangs, do just that! I can honestly say I was embarrassed to say that I graduated from SMSU at last weekend's game. Certain SMSU fans decided to cheer when OSU got a technical foul. SMSU fans cheered when OSU made mistakes. Not only did they cheer, they taunted individual OSU players. Last time I checked, good sportsmanship did not include any of the above. I was taught that good sportsmanship involves acknowledging the effort and talent that an athlete puts forth in a game, and not taunt and degrade opponents. I don't know if bad sportsmanship goes on at other SMSU sporting events. I know it left a bad taste in my mouth about SMSU, and I enjoyed two and a half years there as a student-athlete myself, and I don't remember the fans acting as outrageous as they did last Saturday. I can only imagine what kind of impression it left on someone that doesn't know what SMSU truly is about. I only hope if I ever decide to come to another SMSU activity that I will be proud to be an alumna, rather than disgusted.
Sheila M. Toering
SMSU Class of 2002
Wheelchair basketball is an amazing sport, and if you have not had the opportunity to attend a game, you are missing out. Go out and support the SMSU Rolling Mustangs at their next game.
However, if you are going to cheer on the Mustangs, do just that! I can honestly say I was embarrassed to say that I graduated from SMSU at last weekend's game. Certain SMSU fans decided to cheer when OSU got a technical foul. SMSU fans cheered when OSU made mistakes. Not only did they cheer, they taunted individual OSU players. Last time I checked, good sportsmanship did not include any of the above. I was taught that good sportsmanship involves acknowledging the effort and talent that an athlete puts forth in a game, and not taunt and degrade opponents. I don't know if bad sportsmanship goes on at other SMSU sporting events. I know it left a bad taste in my mouth about SMSU, and I enjoyed two and a half years there as a student-athlete myself, and I don't remember the fans acting as outrageous as they did last Saturday. I can only imagine what kind of impression it left on someone that doesn't know what SMSU truly is about. I only hope if I ever decide to come to another SMSU activity that I will be proud to be an alumna, rather than disgusted.
Sheila M. Toering
SMSU Class of 2002