Unsportsmanlike Conduct

  As I continue to mourn the Chargers playoff loss against the Jets (mainly because they beat themselves and the Jets needn't have shown up), I realize I owe them one.  As painful as it was to watch all the penalties against a team I genuinely love, a few of the offenses served as powerful reminders to my kids about good sportsmanship.

  Take Vincent Jackson.  All season, with the grace and precision of an eagle snatching fish in its talons, he has grabbed pass after pass, turning himself into a pro-bowler, no matter what the official votes say.  Then, after perhaps the catch of the season in the Jets game with just minutes to march down field in the fourth quarter, Jackson makes his most memorable and unfortunate move.  He kicks a challenge flag and costs his team 15 yards for "unsportsmanlike conduct".  It was unbelievable.

  My 9 year old son was puzzled.  "Why did he do that?" he kept repeating over and over.  We really didn't have an answer other than:  "I guess he got mad."  I then seized the opportunity and said:  "Now do you see why we harp on you guys to be good sports?".  I said, "See how bad that looks...and how he hurt his own team by getting angry?". 

   I didn't get much response until a few hours later, when my son, tossing a football in the air in my bedroom said casually, "Why did Vincent Jackson do that?"  I repeated myself and said:  "He just got mad over that call, I guess."  He said, "Wow, I really looked up to him."  I said, "Yeah, me too."

   So, score one for number 83.   I don't think I'll have to harp on my son anymore about being a good sport.  Call it one small victory in the face of a big loss.  Hopefully, Vincent learned from it too.

  Go Chargers!  We'll see ya next season.