Paige Brooks
*
Oct 29, 2009, 3:19 PM
Post #1 of 2
(2959 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Tactical Yes, Unsportsmanlike No
|
Log-In to Post/Reply
|
|
Tactical Yes, Unsportsmanlike No
By Paige Brooks
In the New York Supreme Court on Tuesday, the judge and attorneys arguing for the America’s Cup used the word "UNSPORTSMANLIKE" repeatedly. This usage is bothersome because they aren't in a sport - they are in the courtroom. They are negotiating a regatta, which has become a task of finagling lawyers, Masters of the Universe, and a tremendous amount of money on the line. But it is not a sport.
Rule 1 in the Racing Rules of sailing says the following about Sportsmanship:
“Competitors in the sport of sailing are governed by a body of rules that they are expected to follow and enforce. A fundamental principle of sportsmanship is that when competitors break a rule they will promptly take a penalty, which may be to retire.”
No dictionary definition of unsportsmanlike speaks of lawyers or businessmen; it is consistently applied to competitors in a sport.
When we call someone unsportsmanlike in sailing, it is not a term we use lightly. It's a very serious and heavy charge, one that none of us sailors want to be called. It's one we use when a competitor’s action is an overt and purposeful attempt at cheating before, during or immediately after racing. The moniker, if endorsed by a protest committee, can have very serious and long term effect on the competitor.
If one of our racing brethren decides at the last minute to change the host club of an upcoming regatta for something that is more beneficial to him, we may say his decision was unfair, stupid, not well thought out, rude, or self-serving. We don't call him unsportsmanlike.
In the business world, if someone says or does something that isn’t in the interest of the health of our company, we call them unprofessional, unfair, or inappropriate. If they make a brilliant move for the good of themselves or their own company, we call them a shark, strategic, or tactical. We don’t call them unsportsmanlike.
They aren’t in a sport, and neither are the lawyers for Golden Gate Yacht Club (GGYC) and Société Nautique De Genève (SNG). They are in the business of organizing a race. Some would say GGYC made a brilliant tactical move in opposing the venue, and perhaps in the eyes of SNG, they were unfair and unprofessional. But they were not unsportsmanlike.
Let’s leave the use of 'unsportsmanlike' on the race course, and not permit the dilution or confusion of its meaning by applying it to the ‘on land’ actions of America’s Cup teams and their well-heeled lawyers. Certainly their expensive vernacular includes more appropriate words.
|
SCUTTLEBUTT
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG IN