There Ya Go
Ienvy Mark Peterson. If you’re wondering why, you need to read the page one story that is very wellwritten, if I do say so myself. Mark, who is the son of Clint and the late Margaret Peterson, coaches Special Olympics in the Twin Cities area. Last month, he coached a Special Olympics soccer team at the USA Games, which sadly flew under the radar because of the World Cup.
Mark is a 1986 graduate of Tracy Area High School, where he was a three-sport athlete, well before soccer became a thing. Why do I envy my friend, Mark?
Fair question. It’s not because of anything materialistic. It’s because of his involvement with Special Olympics. I’ve written before about how my late brother, Eric, was one reason he got involved in Special Olympics. Eric was heavily involved with the organization, and Mark has more than followed his lead.
I applaud Mark for his commitment. But envy? That’s a pretty strong word. After interviewing Mark over the phone last week about his Team Minnesota soccer team competing in the USA Games, I had one lasting takeaway. And it had nothing to do with the fact that his squad finished with a silver medal.
The excitement and pride in Mark’s voice spiked when he talked not just about his team, but about the spirit of the event. He told me about the camaraderie between his athletes and those from around the country whom they had never met before. He told me about the fun these athletes had, how they gathered for a group photo with the team that beat them in the championship match.
It was one of the most refreshing interviews I have ever done. I hung up feeling good, being reminded that sports isn’t just about winning or losing. This is a feeling I will take into the upcoming fall high school sports season.
I’ve covered a countless number of high school events, and I can count on one hand the number of times where I’ve seen something that does my heart good.
Instead, I hear moms and dads cursing officials from the sidelines or bleachers, no matter the sport. I’ve seen athletes who are way too cocky for their own good, boasting about a tackle they made or a basket they hit. Do the parents talk to them about their attitude?
It’s hard to blame the kids, really. They’re simply emulating what they see on TV from pro athletes who clearly care more about what’s on the back of their jersey than what’s on the front.
The arrogance in sports today is blinding, and all I can do when I see it is roll my eyes. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen much with TMB kids, but I’ve seen it from other schools. This garbage doesn’t exist in Special Olympics. These are athletes who appreciate the fact that they’re competing — not for riches or a championship, but because they love just being out there. That sounds pretty elementary, and maybe my naiveté has gotten the best of me, but wouldn’t it nice if “normal” athletes didn’t take the abilities they have for granted?
Don’t get me wrong, I love high school sports, but when did we reach the point that arrogance outweighs sportsmanship? As I said, not all kids are cocky — most of them aren’t — but seeing that arrogance in our youth is becoming more common.
Society needs to take a page from the Special Olympics’ handbook and learn a lesson. It’s OK to be competitive, even to a fault, but it seems youth’s concerns about a bad call now trump the spirit of competition.
Parents need to remind their kids that they’re lucky to be healthy and not have to deal with a disability; that they should win with class and lose with grace; that high school sports are just a teensy part of their life that they will eventually leave behind; that they should play, not just to win on the court, but off it as well.
Now that would be special.
