SPORTSMANSHIP IN A SPORTING AMERICA: TRADITION, IDEAL, REALITY

The focus of this study was to explain the origins, evolutions and contemporary practices of the traditional conception of 'sportsmanship' as an ideal for sporting ethics. This study proposed to compare this ideal with actual practices exhibited in various sporting societies with an emphasis on the American culture. Literature was reviewed from the ancient Greek, chivalrous European, Victorian English, early American, 1865-1930s American, and modern American (1970s-) periods to determine the basis for sporting ideals and to examine the meanings and practices of 'sportsmanship.' The phenomena of sporting morality and metaethical dimensions were investigated and revealed that ideals for sporting behaviors have existed, just as sport in some form has always existed and has been a major part of the overall life experience of mankind. As societies in general have progressed technologically, differences have developed between the sporting ideals and the actual exhibited practices. In America, 'sportsmanship' as the sporting ideal has been no exception. As in past societies, the actual exhibited practices in modern competitive sport are now in conflict with the original and conceptually maintained meanings and purposes for sportsmanlike behaviors. In order to resolve the differences between the society's desired values for competition and the original tenets of the ideal, a new proposal for the future was formulated. In this methodology, codified and enforced sport-specific sportsmanship rules were proposed to be included as a part of all existing technical sporting rules. This would aid the participant then in the conscience orientation for the selection and exhibition of ethical patterns (the 'spirit' and letter of the rules) instead of only valuing success strategies during a sporting episode.