Team Sports
"If they are kept on a nonserious, casual level they have some value:
young people are brought together, there is a certain amount of horseplay,
and the activity does take on a social nature. No great heroes are born
and lesser players are encouraged to try their best. But is this what regular
intercollegiate athletics has come to? No! I used to go to basketball
games. I was appalled at the spirit of these games. The idea was to win
at any cost, even if you had to cheat. The referee was a crook and a dunce
if he made a decision against you. And what is even more perplexing is
that if the team has a winning streak, college spirit is high. Let it lose
three or four games in a row, attendance drops perceptibly and the spirit
flags -- this at a time when the team needs cheering most."
"I suggested at one time that our own team cheer any good plays by
the opposition. Then they in turn would have to cheer good plays by us.
... The emphasis would then be on good playing. The students shrieked in
horror. This would be pure treason."
"I don't believe we are doing young people any good when we encourage
cheating, foul play, discourtesy, and outright mass belligerency."