Sportsmanship has become more of a word than an idea. The attitude shared by many athletes and students has become less about positivity and more about negativity towards rival teams. There is a fine line between friendly rivalry and poor sportsmanship. Where does this line lie? When has someone gone too far?

     Some people can let what happens in the medium of the competition do the talking, others enjoy pulling pranks…some of those pranks are good-intentioned, but others are in poor taste. Talent does not outshine integrity.

      At Pleasant Valley High School, many students take athletics and academics very seriously. Whether they strive for their team to be the best or they work for the top of their class, everything becomes a competition. Of course, competition is a good thing. It keeps prices low in the business world, it keeps standards high in the academic world, it is the cause of excitement in the sports world. Competition causes rivalry; rivalry among friends, enemies and schools. Sportsmanship defines the line between positive and negative rivalry. Being a good sport does not always seem like the best thing to do; it is easy to degrade the rivals, to call them names, to claim deceit when the outcome is defeat. This type of behavior can make participants or spectators feel better or, unfortunately, make them compete better. Negativity fails in the long run. To be a good sport, one must often swallow their pride. Positive encouragement of both sides is not always easy; tensions may be high among rivals. The reputation gained by utilizing good sportsmanship is lasting. Teams and competitors who respect will become respected.