There are traditions at the end of most sporting events, especially championships. Basketball and baseball often have opposing teams form lines with the players going down the lines to shake hands. Futbol/soccer players often exchange jerseys. American Football has players shake hands and hug in the center of the field. After fighting each other so hard, why do they end things with a hand shake and often words of respect? 

It amazes me when I see players, who just moments before were violently hitting each other, after the final whistle can show so much respect for each other. I told my student this morning that when you face off with a talented opponent it can very well improve your playing or your game. And that real professionals working at a very high skill level exercise extreme control of their emotions, which might interfere with their performance. They aren’t robots but they use their emotions to perform at an extremely high level and are always striving to improve. Like the little kids in the video, they can be crushed in defeat. But if it was a clean game, they don’t blame anyone but try to find a way to do better next time and fight to do much better. In this atmosphere, they can appreciate the other team and don’t need to resort to name-calling or blame. They might actually develop a sense of friendship with their opponents without giving up the drive to win. 

It’s too bad that there are so many sore losers in other arenas of life, like politics and social tribalism. “Othering” our competitors is a sign of weakness, fear and shortsightedness. We can do better.