The Editor,
I was watching Ian Poulter play in a European Tour golf tournament not too long ago.
On the second playoff hole while tied for the lead, Ian accidentally dropped his ball onto his marker on the green. I'm not sure if the marker moved or not, but apparently this is against the rules of golf.
Ian voluntarily called a rules official over to tell what he had done, thus ending any chance of winning the tournament as he took a one stroke penalty.
I'm not sure how much money was involved, but I'm sure it was significant, yet Ian behaved honourably and obeyed the rules.
Contrast that with two of the defensive backs for the Calgary Stampeders, Brandon Browner being one of them. Brandon is a very gifted athlete with great ball sense and yet his style of play is to clutch and grab at a receiver subtly impeding his progress or upsetting his balance and his only mantra seems to be, it's OK as long as the refs don't call it.
As long as they don't see it, as long as he can get an, in my opinion, illegal edge, as long as it's not called it's OK.
I remember in my high school football days we had a professional lineman come out one day to help us. He spent the whole hour he had with our offensive line teaching them how to hold illegally without getting caught. Our coach either after that practice or before the next one apologized to the team, told us never to play the game that way and to forget what we had been shown.
So in these two cases of Ian Poulter and Brandon Browner, there appears to be two very different approaches to competition.
Two great athletes both competing for a top prize, Ian for a tour victory and Brandon for the western championship of the CFL.
Ian chose to play hard and honourably while Brandon chose to play hard and try not to get caught.
So with these two examples of professional athletes to learn from, which one do you want your grandson to choose? If they were both your sons, which one would you be prouder of?
I would hope that the Ian Poulter example of true sportsmanship would be the one my grandson chooses.
Herb Padwick
Estevan, Sask.
