Winner and Losers

The Olympic Games are just around the corner and London will be filled with screaming, yelling fans. Athletes from around the globe will step foot into their venues and give their very best for their country and to their sport. Flags will wave and national anthems will be played.

And someone will cheat.

One or two athletes will dope or do something that will garner headlines for a few days and then we will all forget about it. At the same time, the Tour d’ France will be accelerating through the wine country and true to form, several riders will be charged with doping or rigging their bikes. The controversy, like the tour, is an annual event.

In our own country I read on an almost weekly basis about NCAA football players being kicked off their team for robbery, assault, drugs and other crimes. Kids who were heroes in the fall are now villains in the spring. And their coaches and fans say they were not treated fairly. They were given a raw deal.

So, when I read the article about the young high school golfer in Oregon who was going for a state record of four consecutive state titles only to have her chances squashed by signing a miscalculated scorecard, I thought of winners and losers.  She was truly a winner.  Because she turned herself in. That’s right, she told officials about the mistake and under the USGA rules that disqualifies a player for that round.  

 She lost.

But when you think about it, golf, with its self-policed rules and regulations, shows the true character of the sport. Here was a young woman about to make history (no other male or female golfer had won four straight titles) and she found a mistake her playing partner had made in the scorecard, told officials she had signed a card that was wrong and her day was done. And so too, was the record.

I think we need her on the Today show. I think we need her on the evening news. I think we need her as a national treasure.  She did what she was supposed to do under the rules and she paid the price for it. She didn’t protest, scream, rant or attack anybody. She didn;t call a lawyer or hold a press conference. She didn't go to court. She thanked the officials and went home. I am sure the young lady who filled out the scorecard in error feels horrible. But accidents happen and the young golfer stood up and took responsibility for signing a card that was wrong.

The key here are the words “took responsibility.”  She signed the card and by doing so was saying I have approved this score and it reflects accurately what I shot for that round of golf on this day. I heard one sports commentator on the radio say, “She should have left it alone and she would have won.”  Maybe. But golf would have lost. And so, too would society. For it is only when we step forward and say this was my fault – my bad – that we will once again become a society that doesn't try and blame others for every little issue.  If more people were like the golfer, sport and life, would once again become honorable.

So to Eugene (Ore.) Churchill High golfer Caroline Inglisa tip of the hat to you. In my book you are a true champion. And I think, regardless who took home the trophy the other day, you are the winner.