There’s been a lot of garbage this fall on the football field, particularly in the amateur ranks. For awhile there, we couldn’t go a week without someone attacking a referee or bludgeoning someone over the head with a helmet. Then there were the on-field brawls, some of which were quite nasty and all of which were terribly uncalled for, stupid, and criminal.
This clip from a mid-Michigan high-school football game is pretty much the opposite of all that. It’s not a big thing really, just someone being nice to their opponent. Shocking, I know.
Video via Lansing Sports Journal:
That’s defensive end Clay Soule tying his opponents’ shoe right before a play.
“He was trying to tie his shoe with his gloves on and he couldn’t do it,” Soule said. “I asked him if he wanted me to tie his shoe, and I just went over there and tied it for him.
“I didn’t think twice about it. I think he was surprised.”
Again, I’m not going to make a big deal about this or preach to you about sportsmanship. “This is what sports is all about guys.” Nah, I’m not going to do that.
But you know, crazy thought: It’s OK to do nice things and not hate your opponent to the point where you want to bash their head in with your helmet. I think that’s possible.
