At the moment of challenge, when personal standards of moral responsibility are called into question, each of us has an opportunity to rise above the level of mediocrity by doing the right thing. It has often been said that people of character do not finish first. What many fail to realize is that they are running a different race. Choices do have consequences. We must continue to challenge athletes to strive to be best, not just first, and never to be satisfied with less.
Most coaches know there is a difference between winning and success.
Make no mistake, winning is crucial in the scheme of athletics and must not be understated. What we must remember, however, is that those things that are most important must never be at the mercy of those things that are most urgent. Let us concern ourselves with the noble task of instilling in athletes the positive virtues of competition leading to achievement and lasting success rather than merely managing the activities of athletics. Daniel A. Gerdes is professor of physical education at Central Missouri State University. Media needs some racial introspection The following column is reprinted from The New York Amsterdam News.