REALLY "SPORT" ANY MORE?

IS SPORTS (NATIONAL AND SCHOOL)

- BY GOOLBAI GUNASEKARA

Watching the Sports News on TV raises my blood pressure a notch or two. The battles (yes battles) on varied courts is enough to give an over keen sports enthusiast a heart attack at the goings on of some athletes and players these days. There is BIG money to be won. The millions at stake cause today's children ready to sacrifice more than I think is normal or even healthy. But who am I to judge these modern trends.

The British taught us to behave graciously if we lost at anything competitive. We were supposed to be 'Good Sports' in the face of adversity. We shook hands with our opponents, smiled politely, sometimes shared refreshments (specially after those Westrop Shield Netball matches) when Colombo Schools met each other, year after year in Colombo.

We did not find it difficult to lose although we prefered, of course, to win. Colombo Schools were pretty evenly balanced. Often the same girls played in the team for a few years. Boys from other Colombo schools came to watch and behaved impeccably. Not that they had much choice with teachers breathing down their necks, but it was all a different scenario.