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Show Wharton's column The death of sportsmanship during the glorious 60's BY TOM WHARTON Sports Writer When one thinks of the events of the 1960's concerning athletics, he las to be somewhat philisophical about the events that changed that lecade. As American youth became disillusioned with nearly everything, ithletics, which had always been some sort of bastion of help or inspira-ion inspira-ion to downtrodden young men, also seemed to fail this same youth. No longer could youth play sandlot baseball in their best friends ack yard. In the 60's, youth had to be organized, uniformed and mbittered. Sportsmanship and fair play no longer became the primary easons for being a sportsmen. A boy had to play ball because his parents wanted him to be better han the boy next door. His parents wanted him to be a high school ero-a college . hero-a professional hero. Johnny better play little ague baseball, for if he didn't-he must be a flop. As the little league farce turned athletes into boys who, if they didn't i;t their way, would cry to father who would yell at the coach and smehow fix things, the heroes of athletics turned into greedy, self-entered self-entered brats. ;M: Idols such as Joe Namath, Denny McClain, Sandy Koufax, and flocks 00 f others chose to hold out for their own personal interests rather than w accept a 'small' contract of $80,000 dollars a year. No matter if the passes can't afford to pay $8.00 a seat to see one of their heroes in :tion, these 'men' had to have money instead of glory. Instead of teaching the youth of America good sportsmanship and a V.U nse a'r P'av me professional athlete told the youth to be greedy I-Jd, if you can get your own way, to walk out like a two year old baby k, ltil you do. ni Instead of black athletes leading their oppressed people out of the ' Jms by showing that they were better on the athletic field than any lite man, black athletes had to quit because a coach had the guts to irt their sense of pride. ;)id 'nstead of teaching players to obey their coaches in a profession that U? quires teamwork and dedication, they showed the youth of America . -"''at the only way to get ahead in the world was to look out for number ' irJ-e. I mr Gone were the days when players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Knutc .cor ickne, and numerous others would take the time to help out a kid in M.ed, set an example of sportsmanship for their young idealistic ad- , 3 rers to follow. I Enter the modern athlete. Milk the public for all their worth. Don't j pjiS anything for anybody unless the price is right. Tell your coach to M ig it in his ear if you don't like what he says. Hire a lawyer to fight r,.. ur case m court if you don't get your precious way. , i rhank you Joe Namath. Thank you Denny McClain. Thank you O.J. ! iy ' ipson. Thank you for screwing the youth of America into the !;,; ""d with your rotten, filthy example of poor sportsmanship, greedi- " J,, :Sandself-centeredness. ( c youth of America will always look up to your example because 1 n J are their heroes. It's nice to see that you think so much of them. ;,,,, ' Sleep well, professional athletes. Your wonderful example is being i owed by millions of your devoted followers. |