Sportsman example missed
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 1, 2004
Get High on Life-Harold Keller
In the athletic arena, many winners become losers and some participants who never get medals or trophies are the real winners in the game of life.
In today’s world, winning is not the only thing, it seems to be everything. Winning at any cost is a lesson taught to youngsters and encouraged by parents and fans.
As the 2004 Olympics came to a close, the United States earned more medals than any other country. I, like most Americans, am excited about these accomplishments.
Mixed with the glory, two of the biggest disappointments of this year’s Olympics were the men’s basketball and baseball teams.
With all the medals won by the United States, (a total of 103 with 35 gold), American gymnast Paul Hamm’s gold medal was the center of controversy.
After Hamm was awarded the gold medal and South Korea’s Yang Tae-Yan the bronze, it was discovered that the judges made an error in the scoring. The gold medal should have gone to Yang Tae-Yang, with Hamm receiving the silver medal.
The International Gymnastic Federation said that the bronze medalist was the true winner. The president of the federation asked Hamm to give up his gold medal as the ultimate show of sportsmanship and goodwill.
Hamm left Athens before the games were completed and had no comments. The response from the International Olympic Committee was that the people in charge of gymnastics were guilty of their own incompetence by failing to act the night of the competition.
The U.S. Olympic Committee agreed with the international group and wants the matter closed as Paul Hamm the winner.
I realize that I’m in the minority, but I think Paul Hamm should have given up his medal. As Peter Finney said, “It would have been a noble gesture by an athlete who did not wrong.”
Instead of having a tarnished gold medal, he could have been a true champion and a hero to the rest of the world.
I am reminded that the greatest legacy a person can have is one of integrity. Hamm may have missed his opportunity.
HAROLD KELLER writes this column as part of his affiliation with the Get High on Life religious motivational organization. Call 652-8477 or write to P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084.