In a world of social media where fights between players on the handshake line, fights among fans in the stands and brawls in the locker room always seem to get the most clicks and attention, let's hope a simple act of sportsmanship and kindness at Saturday's South Gate-Dorsey playoff football game goes viral.
After South Gate beat City 28-20 in the Division 1 semi-final, several of Dorsey's players were distraught.
The winning defenseman, junior Michael Gonzalez, heard a strange noise while shaking hands.
“I heard someone crying,” he said. “I looked to my right and saw two players: one I knew and the other I didn’t.”
He came over to console them both. A player he didn't know, William Smith of Dorsey, was on one knee, head down, without a helmet.
Gonzalez said he told him, “There's more to life than just football. You're done with college. Keep your head up. It was a good game.”
It's hard to lose a semi-final. But winning and acting with dignity and respect can also be challenging.
Asked where he learned sportsmanship, Gonzalez said, “My mom and my coaches taught me that. Be a good person, no matter what.”
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