We’ve seen the best and worst from athletes when it comes to showing respect for opponents in the last couple of weeks.
After Warriors investor Mark Stevens pushed Toronto Raptors star Kyle Lowry from his front row seat in the third game of the NBA Finals, Steph Curry was among a few Golden State players who came to his opponent’s defence saying Stevens should not have done that.
In Game 5 in Toronto, when Warriors star Kevin Durant went down to injury, Pascal Siakam and Serge Ibaka of the Raptors were among those who motioned to the Toronto crowd to stop cheering when Durant was limping off the court. Raptors players took the lead when Toronto fans crossed the line.
In contrast to the professionalism being shown by NBA players, the American women’s soccer showed little class in staging long and at times choreographed celebrations when routing underdog Thailand 13-0 at the Women’s World Cup of Soccer in France.
The world’s best basketball players have shown dignity and respect for the opposition in recent days. The world’s best women’s soccer players have not.