Don, good piece by the way. I think Rick Reilly was just bored and wanted to do something different but ultimately failed. But his piece echos what is wrong with the educational system in the U.S. where the slackers are rewarded for their half-ass effort by way of grade curving. Maybe the basketball team at Yates High School reminds him of the kind of hard working kids he had to compete with in high school.

Thanks Ezra, I appreciate the comment, and the point of view you present.

I don't really have that much knowledge about the US Education system - but I do coach kids. I'd never tell them to try anything less than 100%.

I still read all Reilly's stuff, even though he has gone way down hill since his earlier days with SI the magazine.

I saw this article and was like WTF? I mean, seriously Rick? Shame on him. Terrible "journalism."

Great commentary and very nice of you to broach it in a way which doesn't pile on Reilly, which might be appropriate considering how you evaluate his latest work.Unfortunately, this was thoughtless garbage for a topic worthy of some consideration. (If it were thoughtful garbage that would be worse).

The need for content is driving out common sense and a sense of values. There is certainly a tension here between defining and practicing good sportsmanship and excellence.

It is a difficult issue to navigate if sportspeople value a certain style of play which frowns upon hurting the feelings of the other team. When the standard of sportsmanship is lowered from fair play to adjusting play in substance and style to account for an opponent's emotions we have created an irreconcilable problem. You cannot appropriately promote total excellence and opponent emotion management in the same contest -- nor should one be required to.

I wonder where this false value of not beating teams came from and what is supposed to be the common standard for determining when victory is stylistically unsportsmanlike. Is it more sportsman to forfeit excellence in favor of sparing emotions or to pummel a team of unequal skill beyond victory? It makes sense that beating a downed person in the boxing ring is unsportsmanlike, but it is true because it risks such physical injury that the battered may be unable to physically continue in the sport. Clobbering a basketball team suggests that someone needs to get better, be appreciative of doing their best, change schools, change teams or change sports. No one is entitled to lose by a certain number of points just so that don't feel so bad about losing.