Worst Sportsmanship Nominees of 2010

Episodes of bad sportsmanship have their place when you're trying to teach the principles of good sportsmanship.  Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, once told me "Bad sportsmanship tells its own story.  No one gets confused about the meaning. They know it's wrong."  He's right.  Good sportsmanship stories have to be put into context.  You have to explain why good sportsmanship is taking place.  That's perfectly fine because good stories should always be told in their entirety.  However, videos like the one above are the reason you're reading this today (Email subscribers click here.)

While the young man's attitude was poor, his actions did not warrant nomination.  We at the Sportsmanship Initiative have identified 14 other acts that deserve closer inspection.  The stories and the links to their videos are posts you have seen before on this site.  Take another look at each of the stories and the acts of poor sportsmanship that accompany them.  Then, take a moment to vote on the story via the poll available in the upper-right corner of this page.  The stories posted below are in no rank order.  Rankings will be left up to you.  All 14 videos will also be available for viewing on our SportsmanshipTV site on Facebook.  Voting concludes on Thursday, December 30 at 11:59 p.m.  The 10 Worst Sportsmanship Moments of 2010 as determined by you will be announced on New Year's Eve.  Vote today and encourage your friends to do the same.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

1. Referee slammed by basketball player
2. Jets coach trips opposing player
3. Father and son attacked by Browns fans
4. Gilbert Arenas fakes injury
5. Bolivian president kicks local mayor
6. Pearland pee-wee football fight
7. Jeter fakes being hit by a pitch
8. LeGarrette Blount fights with teammates
9. Reds-Cardinals Basebrawl
10. LeBron's Decision
11. Eating champ Kobayashi arrested at hot dog event
12. French soccer team walks out on head coach
13. Fan gets tased for running onto baseball field
14. Nigel de Jong impersonated Jackie Chan during World Cup Final