Tag: Class

Class, Character and Compassion

“Listen up, y’all, let me tell you somethin’ true

No amount of money, power, or fame can buy you class

No amount of wealth can purchase character, or compassion too

That’s the job of a parent, to teach what’s right, what’s wrong, and what’s due

When a parent fails, the world feels the pain

Their shortcomings echoed, like a shameful refrain

The streets become classrooms, where lessons are harsh and cruel

And the cycle repeats, like a never-ending duel

A title doesn’t make you noble, a throne doesn’t make you wise

It’s the heart that beats with kindness, the soul that opens eyes

Class, character, compassion – these are the things that make us whole

And it’s the parents who instill them, or let the world pay the toll

So let’s raise ’em up, with love and with care

Teach ’em to be kind, and to show they care

For when we fail, the world suffers the consequences

And the lessons we teach, will shape the future’s tendencies.” ~OC

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My Tribute to President Carter

Today’s a new day! The world has lost a giant in President Jimmy Carter, the man whose impact endured far beyond his presidency. To call him a statesman is accurate but insufficient; he was a humanitarian, a leader of conscience, and a model of humility. I had the profound honor of sitting in on President Carter teaching Sunday School Class back in 2019. One of the highlights of my life. From that visit, I developed a beautiful and life changing relationship with the people of Plains, Georgia. The hometown of President and Mrs. Carter.

President Carter’s long and inspiring life reminds us that our lives are about impact, not image. It’s about making choices that prioritize others over self. From the peanut farms of Plains, Georgia to the corridors of the White House and places around the world, his journey was always one of service.

As we remember President Jimmy Carter, let us carry forward his legacy of humility and purpose. His life was a testament to the idea that, as human beings we are stewards of something greater than ourselves.

President Carter once said,

“My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have, to try to make a difference.”

Thank you, President James Earl Carter Jr, for showing us what leadership, humanity, and faith in action truly means. Your amazing legacy will continue to inspire the world. Rest in peace Mr. President. ~OC

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Sportsmanship

Today’s a new day! The last few days we celebrated Rivalry Week in College Football. The games did not disappoint. There were some amazing moments, finishes and upsets. But most people will not be talking about that today. No, sadly most people will be discussing incidents of winning teams trying to place their team flags on the logos of the losing teams and the brawls that ensued. At Ohio State, police used pepper spray on players. How crazy is that. Which brings me to the question about sportsmanship.

Although it comes in many forms, everyone can give a few examples of what sportsmanship looks like and what it takes to be viewed as a “good sport”: We shake hands before and after games, we clap for injured players once they show they are okay, and we extend a hand to help an opponent get up off of the ground. These examples are just scratching the surface of displaying good sportsmanship.

Sportsmanship is an understanding of and commitment to fair play, ethical behavior and integrity, and general goodwill toward an opponent. It is an affirmation that an athlete is disciplined enough to have perspective, maintain poise and do what is best for his or her teammates.

Being able to make appropriate behavioral choices at the “moment of truth” and in a pressure situation will often reveal a player’s character and his or her ability to be a good sport. Simply put, sportsmanship is a choice.

It is easy for the athletes, coaches and fans to get caught up in a game and become too focused on winning. Although winning is important, it is not always the most important aspect of the game. There is so much to be gained and learned from an athletic experience that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Good sportsmanship is one of those life lessons that should be intentionally learned, taught, practiced and reinforced.

No matter how much we would like to, we cannot win at everything every time. So we need to learn to deal with defeat. After a hard fought game in which everything was left on the playing field in a losing effort, it can be very difficult to look your opponents in the eye and tell them “good game” or “good job.” But this is what is asked of athletes. The key question is: How do we handle losing with class?

Keep losing in perspective. Just as in life, sports are a learning experience. Very few wins and losses are remembered, even a short time later. 

Always accept responsibility for the loss. Acknowledge the winners and congratulate them. Sometimes your opponent was just better. Even if they are not better, they were better on that particular day. The effort should be acknowledged. Sulking shows a lack of discipline and respect.

Winning is fun! It is the reward for your hard work. But excessive gloating and flaunting your win in front of the losing team does not promote or show good sportsmanship. Remember how you feel when you’re on the losing side of a sporting or life event.

Keep winning in perspective. Winning doesn’t mean you were perfect or that you will win again. Celebrate your win, but celebrate your win with class, respect and grace.

Have empathy for the team you defeated; win with humility and class. Acknowledge your opponents’ effort and that they were worthy competitors. The late , great North Carolina basketball Coach Dean Smith once said, “A lion never roars after a kill.” I love that quote and the parallel to what “good winning” should look like.

Life is tough, and life is not fair. Like life, sports are tough and not always fair. Yet sports can be a wonderful training ground for life’s challenges. Just like we win some and lose some in sports, we also deal with plenty of successes, challenges and failures in our own lives. Let’s try to be good sports in both the winning and losing situations and during our successes, challenges and failures.

Let me leave you with a few more quote about sportsmanship:

“One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it.” ~ Former University of Notre Dame Head Football Coach Knute Rockne

“Sometimes I think sportsmanship is a little bit forgotten in place of the individual attention.” ~ MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr.

“If character is what you do when no one is watching, then sportsmanship is that conduct with everybody watching.” ~ ESPN Sportscaster Bob Ley

“Sportsmanship is that quality of honor that desires always to be courteous, fair, and respectful, and it is interpreted in the conduct of players, spectators, coaches, and school authorities.” ~ Former University of Michigan Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Fielding H. Yost

I truly hope we will spend some time reflecting on the importance of sportsmanship in all areas of sports and life. ~OC

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