Gracious losers set an example for us all
Open the sports section of this newspaper, or any other, and you’ll occasionally find stories about sore losers.
There have been dispatches in recent years about New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick skulking off in a huff after his team loses, tennis superstar Serena Williams blowing her stack at an umpire after suffering a defeat or hotheaded Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano cleaning out his locker and leaving the stadium early after getting tossed from a game against the Atlanta Braves. It’s unfortunately become customary for baseball players to throw down their helmets and hammer their bats into the ground after striking out at the plate or putting a pop fly into the air, particularly if their team is behind and men are left on base. It may be an honest expression of frustration, but it hardly sets a sterling example for young people who could be watching the game on television or sitting in the stands.
It is, after all, just a game.
The Trinity Hillers softball team has, thankfully, set a different kind of example.
After losing the PIAA Class AAA softball championship Friday to Bethlehem Catholic High School, the Trinity team faced the fans in the stands at the Nittany Lions Softball Park in University Park, joined hands, raised them high, and proudly sang Trinity’s alma mater.
They then chanted, “It’s a great day to be a Hiller” several times.
As Chris Dugan, the Observer-Reporter‘s sports editor, recounted in a column that appeared in Sunday’s edition, the Hillers responded to their loss with such grace and goodwill because they weren’t widely tipped to even be in the championship, and were glad to have had that opportunity in their high school careers.
Dugan explained, “The scene was definitely unique. There have been too many teams and sore-loser players over the years who have thrown down their second-place medals, left the runner-up trophy on the ground because it wasn’t the winner’s trophy, or simply walked away while the opponent received its championship medals.
“Trinity, however, seemed to be ecstatic to be in the state title game and determined to soak in every moment, win or lose.”
Though they lost the trophy, the Hillers have set an example that everyone – including athletes higher up the food chain – should emulate. By their conduct, they are, indeed, winners.