Readers give thumbs up to ‘Handshake-gate’




Editor’s note: Readers responded to last week’s column by sports editor Eliav Appelbaum. He wrote about the lack of sportsmanship in high school football, a topic sparked by Salesian captains refusing to shake hands with Calabasas players during a pregame coin toss. Here are some of the letters we received:

Spot on, Eliav, spot on. The lack of big picture development in kids’ sports has been terrible for many years. It’s yet another reason hockey is the best sport. From my beer league to the NHL, respect and handshakes are part of the game.

Ken Berkman
Agoura Hills

I was shocked and horrified when I read your excellent article on the non-shaking hands incident.

It seems that, with these kids’ egos matching the talent they think they have, now even sportsmanship has gone the way of professionalism. (Remember professionalism? It left a long time ago).

In my day we used to tell the kids: “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.” Now it’s “Win at any cost.” Wasn’t there some high school football player that kicked his opponent in the groin just the other day?

Your point about how these kids all think they’ll be superstars was well-stated; they’re pumped up by the coaches and the press and think they can get away with anything, and by-gummie, they can. Instead of achieving academic excellence, they all dream of making lots of money, getting lots of chicks, doing lots of promotions and wearing garish jewelry to prove how important they are.

All those players who didn’t shake hands should be suspended, and their coaches along with them. But what else should we expect in a society that has a professional football team still called the Redskins?

Peter H. Brothers
Agoura Hills

I have lived and worked in the community many years, along with coaching track and cross country at Moorpark High School. I am around many young athletes and am proud to share that the great majority are respectful, kind and dedicated to both their sports and studies. I have the real pleasure of associating with professional and dedicated coaches in all sports, both at Moorpark High School and most of our opponents, who truly use the coaching opportunity to make a real difference in a young athlete’s life.

I have followed your articles for quite some time. I thoroughly appreciate your willingness to call out those who choose to over-glorify the sport along with the individuals who are perceived stars, at the expense of the school and the team’s reputation. When we allow for unsportsmanlike conduct and idolatry inside our coaching realm, we diminish any opportunity to teach our athletes important life-long skills and values that just may be more important in the long run than snubbing another team.

Marty Rouse
Moorpark

I wanted to thank you for the wonderful article. As a former player and coach I could not have agreed with you more. Hopefully, it will help reverse the current trend in amateur sports.

Anson Mar
Camarillo

First of all, thank you for your amazing article. I applaud everything you wrote. I was stunned to see the behavior from the “athletes” at Salesian High School. Having gone to Catholic school for 12 years, I am beyond shocked that a school (Catholic or otherwise) would condone this appalling, unsportsmanlike behavior.

Thank you for bringing to light that these players need to learn humility and grace . . . oh yeah, and sportsmanship.

Carol Jones
Oak Park



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