Parakalein

The Red Sox Yankee rivalry is huge in the field of sports.  Sports generally brings out the best and the worst in people.

Last week I was in Fenway watching the Red Sox lose to the Yankees.  There were a few Yankee fans in the stands.  They obviously had something to cheer about.  They also were respected by everyone around them in a good sportsmanship way.  A red sox player was up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th.  They are always great games win or lose and this one was.  A hit would change the outcome of the game.  As the final out was made, one loan yankee fan began a cheer as he stood up:  "Let's go Yankees".

Everyone looked at him and in a few minutes he did sit down.  A red sox fan went up to him and said, "really, you think that is a good idea with all the craziness in the world and the reports of violence at sports events, did you really have to do that.  The young man admitted, "no".

What life and sports offer us to learn is how to win and lose, graciously and gracefully.

Provocative behavior is not always behind violence but often.  The Yankees had won but this behavior of a yankee fan was an in your face insult like rubbing the losing teams face in the mud.  Thankfully a red sox fan acted in a healthy and best way simply maturely and respectfully challenging the need for this kind of provocative behavior.

In sports as in life we all have the opportunity to act with a face of maturity and mutual respectfulness, the best,  or we can give in to the baser instincts of "in your face", the worst.

The Yankees won the game but that red sox fan won the game of life.