Sports and Sportmanship

It is that time of year again. March madness. It is a funny time for me, as I am a big sports fan (big as in passionate), but I never really follow basketball the same way I do football, baseball and cycling. I do enjoy watching March madness. This past weekend, the Ohio State v Xavier game was exceptional. A whole season coming down to one free throw (for Xavier) and one play (for Ohio State). It is a shame someone has to lose a game like that.

The point of my post is the aftermath. Ohio State took control of the game in overtime and won. After the game, the players and the coaches of the opposing teams took the time to congratulate each other for a game well played. This ritual of respect is played out in most sports. Football, Basketball, soccer, golf, and so on. Why is it that professional baseball players refuse to acknowledge the other team and just congratulate themselves? I find this completely baffling. I think it is a horrible example to set for our youth. Frankly, I just don’t get it.

Football is a terrifically violent sport. These men inflict physical pain on each other that is truly incomprehensible to the average human. But after the game, they congratulate each other out of respect. Some even pray together. Why is it so hard for baseball players to so some respect to each other?

Does anybody know how or why this rather weak tradition exists?