Charlie Sheen and Sportsmanship

I was driving westbound on Interstate 44 here in St. Louis a couple of days ago when traffic on the highway came to a complete stop.  It's happened to all of us.  You're rolling along and suddenly there are brake lights as far as the eye can see.  I think there's an accident up ahead, but I've come to realize that's not always the case.  After about 20 minutes of creeping along, police and ambulance lights came into view - in the eastbound lane!  The accident was on the other side of the highway.  People just stopped traffic to gawk at someone else's misfortune.  I could almost understand if someone actually got out of their car to help.  Nope.  They just watched.  Someone could be dying, hurt badly, or at the very least a nervous wreck and hundreds of people have slowed to a crawl just to watch.

We're all guilty.  I don't know what we expect to see...blood, a body, a crying mother.  Charlie Sheen's story reminds me of people gawking on the highway.  Sheen has interviewed with every major network and cable outfit in the last week.  Everyone hopes he'll say something crazy.  They know he's had issues with drugs and may very well still.  It doesn't matter.  They keep sticking a microphone in his face and we keep watching.  Earlier this week, Sheen uttered a phrase that has now gone viral.  Just watch the first two minutes or so of the video below and you'll see what I mean.



Charlie Sheen is not "bi-winning."  He's losing and well all know it.  It's funny because he's a rich guy and we don't have sympathy for rich people because they're rich.  However, Sheen has five kids.  Let that sink in for a moment.  All the money and fame in the world can't replace your dad.  Not so funny anymore, is it?  You and I are not in a position to help Charlie Sheen, but we can help someone else.  Here's where the sportsmanship piece comes in.  There's a kid on your team or maybe on another team that you know is having a hard time.  Until now, you've just watched that kid struggle.  His parents may be having a tough go of it and you could help, but you don't. 

I encourage you to help that kid today.  The young girl could be failing in math and you're an engineer by profession.  Help her improve; whether she can make her free throws or not.  Maybe your second baseman is having trouble in English class and your job requires you to write press releases all day.  You see where I'm going with this.  Don't just watch.  Help a kid be a winner today.  Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol