It was one of those sunny July afternoons that we had this summer. At worst I
should have been working in the garden; at best I should have been racing my
sailing dinghy around the lake at Pingewood. Instead I was watching on
television, an intriguing battle for the Scottish Open between two golfers, one a
Dane and the other an Argentinian.
With two holes to go the Dane held a one
stroke lead but had played his second shot blind over some trees, into a thick
patch of rough. Even the television camera didn't pick up where the ball landed and seemingly
only one person knew where it had gone. His opponent, the Argentinian. If the
Dane couldn't find his ball, he would have to play the shot again with a two
stroke penalty. This would mean that from being one up he would go to being at
least a stroke behind with one hole to play. The difference in prize money
between first and second was £100,000.
Did the Argentinian hesitate? Not for
one moment. He went into the rough and found his opponent's wayward ball. The
Dane saved his par and retained his lead.
I couldn't help compare this with the behaviour of another South American at
that other event which had me and no doubt you, glued to the television screen
this summer, the World Cup. Brazilian striker Rivaldo, was fined for
deliberately feigning injury to get an opponent sent off. His comment? 'Football
is a game and people have to be cunning'. Not 'football is a game, so you should
behave sportingly'. Not 'football is a game, so you should respect your opponent.'
His team mate Roberto Carlos supported him. 'I have
simulated many fouls and penalties' he said after the incident, 'moves like that can make you world
champions'. England's captain David Beckham said he would not go out to cheat
but added that if it helped the team progress he might be prepared to be as
'cunning' as other players. 'It's up to the referees to spot it,' was the reported
view of team mate Paul Scholes.
Many people claim that it is money that has
created this sub-culture of cheating but I think that golf shows this does not have
to be the case. It is simply a question of attitude.
One other sporting event which drew me to the television set this summer, was
the Commonwealth Games. One Sunday morning I watched the ladies cycle
road race. On the last lap an Australian racer, Margaret Hemsley, made a break
and got clean away. However on a wet downward hill, her bike slipped away
and she crashed, sliding along the tarmac. The television camera zoomed in
showing the deep and extensive gashing down her arm. What it couldn't show
was that she had broken her collar bone.
While this was happening the rest of
the leading group caught up and passed her. Did she lie on the ground and
writhe about in agony. No way. Not only did she get back on her bike, she rode
the several miles to the finishing line with half a pedal and came in twelfth.
A South African swimmer, Natalie Du Toit, who despite loosing a leg in a
accident still competed in able bodied events, was made athlete of the games.
Had I been the judge, I would have given the award to that Australian cyclist.
And what's more I would show a video of her fall and subsequent remount to all
the professional footballers in this country.
Perhaps when they see a true
sportsman/woman, make no fuss about what were serious injuries and get on
with the race, they might reflect on their own behaviour. The theatrical diving
and exaggerated rolling about as if in extreme pain at the slightest knock.
It could make them consider their so-called cunning and think what sport should
really be about.
Dick Sawdon Smith