To the editor:
Concerning the 9/22/99 LJW article on the LHS soccer loss to Olathe East, and the no-shake-hands policy developed by Mr. Bertrand, I must have missed the point about the great game of soccer. I must be a bad, or at least ill-informed parent, coach and referee. Or, maybe I'm just old-fashioned because I have always thought that one important measure of success is in doing your best and working hard. I always thought that winning was secondary to having fun and seeing our children grow in skill, strength, intelligence and, particularly, wisdom. I also thought I heard that our high schools had some rules about our kids being good sports.
Oh well, maybe Mr. Bertrand is right. If we don't shake their hands after them beating us 4-0, the Olathe East team surely will learn a lesson. That will fix them up, all right.
However, what have we just taught our children? That it is OK to retaliate when they are fouled? That they can't tell the better team that they played well? That they shouldn't congratulate the victor on their win? That good sportsmanship is unimportant? That winning is everything and that doing their best is nothing? Oh, I hope not. I really think the young men on this LHS team are bigger than that. I think they really know that they were beaten by a superior team.
There is no shame in working hard and doing the best job possible but still losing. I stopped to watch some of the game Tuesday night and was proud of the effort being shown. I know most of these young men and they were playing well. They were playing against probably the strongest high school team in Kansas, and while I watched only part of the game, I could see that they were doing their best. They are strong spirited boys, aggressive, skilled, confident, intelligent and responsible. And, for the most part, they remember that soccer is a game -- an important game to many of us -- but still a game. I say congratulations to Olathe East on a game fairly won, and congratulations to our LHS team for doing their best.
And concerning the physical play, Mr. Bertrand, in case you hadn't ever noticed, the player who retaliates gets the card.
Alan Johnson,
Lawrence.
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