Being a good sport means recognizing that character is more important than who won. Courage also comes into play in how you handle getting hurt. Few activities help build courage the way sports do. It's a skill to be able to control your emotions in difficult circumstances. Anger is the most common emotion that can get you into trouble in any sport.
Few activities help build the proper control of our passions the way sports do.
Winning gives a boost to your self-esteem, which is valuable and pleasurable. When you win, you are an object of admiration and esteem from others. Winning also means that you have achieved a certain excellence in your skill. You might have further ideas of your own, which could be added to expand this list. Remember that playing in sports isn't work except, of course, for those who make money doing it.