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"Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!" Chants of his name and placards with his name boldly inscribed on them filled the Maplewood stadium.
Tommy was an amazing football player, the best in their small town of Maplewood. He was a wide receiver. He had blazing speed, was a great finisher, and had incredible reflexes. He had a knack for reading the game. But he was also known for his pride, cocky attitude, and poor sportsmanship. It nearly cost him his career one fateful day.
It was the annual soccer tournament, the highlight of the spring season. Families had gathered around the Maplewood field, parents cheering on their kids with unwavering enthusiasm and fans cheering at their idols.
Among the spectators were Mrs. Sarah, a devoted soccer mom, and her son, Tommy, the star player who played for the Maplewood Minnows.
"That's my boy! Come on, Tommy!" Mrs. Sarah yelled.
Their opponents, the Turks, were known to have been great rivals to the Maplewoods team, so the tension on the field was palpable. But Tommy was so determined to dominate, and he didn't care if he had to play with reckless abandon. He didn't care if he had to abandon his teammates and do it alone. He believed he had always been the one leading his team to victory. So he paid no attention to their yells for passes.
As the game unfolded, tensions were high on both sides. It got to Tommy. He played recklessly now, avoiding passes to his teammates. It got so bad that he roughly shoved an opposing player, and the refs called a penalty.A careless mistake that cost his team a goal.
Tommy's temper flared. "Come on, ref! Are you blind? Watch the game with your eyes, not with the amount of money they've stuck in your pocket," Tommy shouted, accusing the referee of being bribed by the Turks. His face flushed with anger.
"Hey, watch your mouth, kid!" retorted the referee.
"Maybe you should learn how to play football rather than lay accusations when you're losing," a player from the opposing team mocked him.
This got to Tommy, so he quickly rushed the player, and chaos ensued on the pitch.
Mrs. Sarah watched with dismay from the stands as the game descended into chaos. She knew she had to intervene before things escalated further.
"Tommy, calm down, baby," she yelled from the stands. "You know better than this. Show some sportsmanship, babe." She pleaded.
On the other side of the field, Coach Davis of the opposing team was all smiles as his team was leading. "Let's focus on the game, boys. We're all here to have fun." He called out in mockery.
Now they were down by a goal, and frustration was gently brewing among the Maplewood players. Tommy, usually a beacon of sportsmanship, found himself succumbing to the pressure.
Tommy and the rest of the Maplewood players played the rest of the game with renewed determination and true sportsmanship. But when the final whistle blew, the scoreboard showed they had lost. Despite the outcome, both teams gathered at midfield to shake hands, a display of mutual respect and camaraderie.
Later that evening, Mrs. Sarah sat Tommy down after dinner to reflect on the game. "Son, what you displayed on the field today wasn't right; it wasn't sportsmanship. Sportsmanship is not just about winning or losing. It's about how you conduct yourself on and off the field. It's about being humane even in the midst of pressure and frustration on the pitch."
Tommy nodded and promised to do better. He regretted his actions, as the people of Maplewood were already blaming him for their loss.
The following week, Maplewood prepared for their return leg with their opponents, the Turks. Tommyapproached each practice with a newfound sense of sportsmanship, encouraging his teammates and showing respect to their opponents.
On the game day, Tommy played with composure, leading by example. The opposing team tried so hard to get on his nerves so he would react and be sent off by the referee, but he maintained his cool. His actions inspired his teammates to do the same, and together, they played with integrity, dignity, and composure.
He went on to score a hatrick for his team, leading them to victory.
And as the final whistle blew, signalling a hard-fought victory for the Maplewoods, they couldn't help but feel proud of Tommy as chants of his name filled the stadium. Not just because of the scoreline, but because of the character he displayed on the field.
As the team celebrated their win, Sarah approached Tommy with a smile. "You were amazing today, son. And I'm proud of you."
"Well, I wouldn't have done it if it was your advice on sportsmanship." He hugged his mom. "Thank you, mom," he said.