Unsportsmanlike Conduct

(Xavier Marching in...)

“Listen up Xavier,” I said, quieting down the rambunctious mass of red sprawled out before me. “For any of you who are running relays this afternoon, do NOT do what that last relay team did or you WILL be disqualified. That last relay team was DQ’ed for 3 reasons…#1 – deliberately blocking other runners. #2 - obscenely lifting up your shirt as you ran by the team – yes you – you know exactly what you did and #3 – for arrogantly turning around to provoke the other runners and crossing the finish line backwards.”

While there are many cultural differences between track and field stateside and in Micronesia, in my mind, sportsmanship is something that is not bound by region. In the Pacific, there is often times more glory to be found in riling up the supporting crowd than actually winning a race itself. There is a thick, dark line however, between firing up your own team, and doing it at the expense of the competition.

(Hoo Hah)

Three times in one race, I put my head down in shame to be a Xavier coach. No amount of natural talent warrants the haughtiness that some feel, comes with the territory. Xavier took first in that relay alright and they were going to let everyone know about it.

I saw the officials congregating after the race and casually strolled over to see if I could overhear the conversation. It was no surprise that the group of irritated officials DQ’ed Xavier from the race they had just won because of their actions on the field. Agreeing completely with the call, I marched my infuriated tukus over to the Xavier tent with the intention of warning them before such behavior continued to subtract points from our score. Unfortunately, I hadn’t quite prepared myself for the onslaught to follow. The athletes were outraged with the call. One, in a most meretriciously innocent act, even tried to convince me that he was simply “turning around to see how close the next runners were.” And then, the head honcho - director of the school speaks up.

( DQ'ed)

The actual conversation:

“What was the call?”

“Unsportsmanlike conduct.” I replied.

“Unsportsmanlike conduct? That’s not in the rules! The other teams were just as physical during the race. That’s ridiculous!” he fumed.

“The officials are right over there if you would like to speak with them.” I responded, trying desperately to keep my cool. Appalled, I turned and walked back towards the infield to avoid the nasty comments and vicious glares I had already begun to receive for not contesting the call. Of course, if the director stands up and protests – one, and by one I mean all of the students and Xavier fans, would naturally assume he is right and I am wrong.

How I wished the conversation would have gone had I had more audacity and quicker thinking on my feet:

“What was the call?”

“Unsportsmanlike conduct.” I replied.

“Unsportsmanlike conduct? That’s not in the rules! The other teams were just as physical during the race. That’s ridiculous!” he fumed.

“Not in the rules? You’re a Jesuit, director of a Jesuit High School and you’re going to tell me that unsportsmanlike conduct is not in the rules? It is in every game you’ll play….and for you to stand up – with no support or regard for my efforts to promote Christian sportsmanship and condone that type of behavior in front of all of these students is atrocious. You are responsible for what Xavier does – not the other teams – just Xavier and if that’s how you want Xavier to play the game – here’s the clipboard, you coach. I don’t want to win by your rules.”

(Where did that Loyola uniform come from?)

(Our one legged runners....no that's not a true statement!)

(Vincia...she's laughing - she's having a good time!)

Though the day was a blast up until, and even after that point, it brought back all too familiar memories of a basketball trip to Pohnpei gone awry.

Xavier ended up taking 2^nd place to Chuuk High – a hard fought battle both athletically, on the field, and energetically, under the tents. The screaming, dancing, chanting and cheering intensified the sense of amiable competition that seethed under the surface of the obvious rivalry between athletes. When you think high-school track meet, I’m sure this is the farthest thing from the image currently being generated in your mind, but I guarantee it will be the best time you might ever have watching people run in circles and throw stuff!!!

(Mapa - rousing the crowd)









Fan Itom XHS - In Your Name Xavier....