Can athletes go above and beyond the call of duty when it comes to good sportsmanship? If I saw correctly on 03/19/17, then the answer to the question is “Yes”.
Last Sunday, the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team played against Ohio State in Round 2 of the 2017 March Madness.
This game was particularly meaningful to UK point guard Makayla Epps, who has been one of the biggest stars of women’s collegiate basketball during the last 4 years.
Here is an excerpt from a story by the Louisville Courier-Journal:
“Makayla Epps couldn’t stand to sit in the final seconds of Kentucky’s season and her career.
When the game ended, the players on each team lined up for the routine hand-shake. That is when the Ohio State players went above and beyond the call of duty.
Instead of shaking her hand, several of the Ohio State players hugged Epps instead.
Being hugged by one’s teammates is to be expected. Being hugged by one’s opponents is something else.
I could be mistaken, since I don’t usually watch women’s sporting events. Perhaps it is common for female athletes to hug their opponents after a competition.
Still, to me, the Ohio State players showed extraordinary sportsmanship.
Perhaps what they did goes beyond sportsmanship.
Either way, the Ohio State players were classy.
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