Monday, March 10, 2025

Sportsmanship Is Dead When a Relay Runner Passing Another Runner Is Hit by a Baton and Suffers a Concussion

 

It is said that the first casualty of war
That enables the number of dead and maimed to soar
Is the slender reed of the truth
Such that any reporting on a war is subject to forsooth
Now with the money to be made in athletics the ideal of sportsmanship seems to have died
We have come such a long way in the wrong direction of the Olympics’ truce where war during the games was decried
Now college athletes with skills entering a portal can from schools and alums millions make
And if the portal money does not flow like icing on a birthday cake
The athlete can jump through another portal to rectify his mistake
And after loads of NIL dollars garnered in with his or her portal rake
May find to the athlete’s dismay in the pros having to take a pay cut
Sadly no longer does the lure of NIL have to wait for college to be mired in the end of sportsmanship rut
At a Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 State Indoor Championships in the 4 x 200 relay race
Jaelen Tucker was in third place moving into 2nd at her increasing pace
When the runner she passed with her baton hit her over the head
Causing her to stumble off the track with a concussion instead
Caught on tape the penalty of expulsion of the baton basher should be swift
Along with assignment to anger management classes as such behavior merits short shrift

© 3/10/2025 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet  

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