The Once Beautiful Game

Something about sport seems to bring out the best, and worst, in people. And I'm not sure if it really is worse, or if I just notice it more in football (soccer). As if, even at an amateur level, people feel obliged to cheat to get ahead. Like the player in the match just after us, who the ball blatantly deflected off of before going out for what should have been a corner kick. And he collected it, only to pass it to his keeper for a goalkick, leaving the attacking player dumbfounded. But then the goalie went ahead and took the kick!

Or worse the player on my own team who lost the ball and then fouled the opponent with a very late kick. Only to end up on the ground himself, rolling around in apparent agony. And he limped off to stretch and walk up and down the sideline, a brave grimace on his face. We were already down a man, and he goes off. Then reappears a couple minutes later, absolutely fine. I would wager anything that some other people took worse knocks during the game, and played on. But it's like to be serious about the sport, you have to play it that way. This same guy also blocked the ball with his arm and played on as if no one had noticed the handball. The point though, is that you always know. The player always knows if they've handballed it, or if they were the last to touch it before going out. Why can't we just admit it? Why can't playing the sport be enough? Or winning because you deserved to win?

And why do I get so upset by this?