Arnold Palmer Sportsmanship Analysis

This year, golf lost “one of the greats” Arnold Palmer, a man whose humility, integrity, and equity overshadowed even his immense talent. About ten years ago, I had the chance to meet this legend; at the time, he was merely a man who pushed the boundaries in his sport. As I reflect back on this chance meeting, I more readily understand that Mr. Palmer’s best quality was not his talent in the sport but rather the sportsmanship he showed toward his opponents. In 2015, my team placed third at state competition, and to my surprise my grandma sent in the newspaper article to Mr. Palmer. At this time Mr. Palmer was not in the best of health and as a result, he visited his office less frequently, yet he would come in, to sign autographs.
On the other hand, poor sportsmanship is easy to spot, for example, someone not pulling the flag when the others are on the green or not acknowledging compliments from other players. At this level, athletics without sportsmanship is meaningless; if we cannot win or lose with dignity, do we really gain anything? Sportsmanship is one of the core values that is best learned outside of the classroom. For example, golf is one of the few games without referees so it largely relies on integrity; therefore, it is expected that each player records their score honestly. Furthermore, etiquette in golf is a set of unwritten rules, teaching good manners and respect. Additionally, golf is a sport where anyone can compete against each other, regardless of skill, making it the ultimate sport of sportsmanship. As Jack Nicklaus says, “Golf is a game of respect and sportsmanship; we have to respect its traditions and its rules.” Even though golf is not necessarily the first sport one thinks of when thinking of great acts of sportsmanship, it is a sport that has consistently displayed it throughout the game’s history. Above all, sportsmanship is a character trait that means more than winning or losing with grace on the field, it is about upholding standards when faced with