ARE YOU A LOSER IF YOU ARE A GOOD LOSER?

This is how Cam Newton responded to the media when he was touted as being a sore loser. Interestingly, this was a quote by another football player, Vince Lomabardi, over 50 years ago. 

Cam Newton says that he doesn't like to lose. Who does?

I remember when I was little, I lost a lot. Playing board games with my family; playing card games with my sister; playing baseball games with my friends. I remember I hated losing. I always cried. (Okay, not in front of my friends) But, with my family? Oh, yes. I cried. My dad would always take me aside and give me a fine lecture about being a good loser vs a poor loser...being a good sport, etc. Uh, that wasn't what I wanted to hear. I wanted everything to be fair and I wanted to win! At least sometimes...!

Time after time, dad would take me aside and give me that fine lecture. I loved playing games and was so competitive, but very many times I lost...and cried. My brother nicknamed me, "Cry baby boing-boing" and "Ball-baby blue eyes".

You know what? Those fine lectures (the name-calling was a driving force as well, truth be told) eventually spoke to my heart and I decided that it was, indeed, a good thing to be a good loser. I had to work on it, but began to learn the art of good sportsmanship.

Definition of sportsmanship

1. :  fair play, respect for opponents, and gracious behavior in winning or losing
2. 
   
3. I still love to play games. I still love to win. If I lose, it's not that big of deal. I know that I will win a different time. I congratulate the other players. It's all good.

Am I a loser by doing/showing all of this? I don't feel like a loser. I actually feel pretty good. I'm not all stressed. I'm at peace. Losing does not define who I am. Losing does not make me a LOSER. 

Why am I even writing about this? I guess because the quote really bothered me. I don't believe that you are a LOSER if you are a good loser.You can enjoy yourself more when your opponents, relationships and reputation is more important that your selfish desire to win. 

Maybe, Cam Newton didn't have anyone take him aside and explain the importance of good sportsmanship. Maybe he will learn it as he matures and experiences more loss in his career. Humility is a virtue learned and practiced over and over. 

Humility comes with recognition that things happen outside of our control and with acknowledgement that God is in control. Yes, even in the winning and losing of games...big and small. 

I hope that I will continue to demonstrate gracious behavior when I win or lose at anything in this life, because then God is glorified. People notice the difference.