We try to teach our kids the value of “Good Sportsmanship”. But when grown-ups act like animals, the lessons get lost. Because when the pushing turns to shoving and the adrenaline is flowing, it’s tough not to yell at the ref, or rack up the score, or pummel a player after he’s down. We see these failures at little league, at a high school girls’ basketball game, and even during the Super Bowl.

But on one night in November, the essence of sportsmanship emerged and transcended lives. Grapevine Faith High School was lined-up to play the boys of Gainesville State. The two opposing teams could not have been more different. A well-funded Christian school against a team comprised of juvenile delinquents within a maximum security school. Gainesville State never played at home and family and friends simply did not show up to the games.

Before the game, Coach Kris Hogan from Grapevine High sent the following email to his team’s fan base.

“This Friday night the Lions end their regular season schedule by hosting the Gainesville State School.  Gainesville State School is a fenced, maximum-security facility within the state’s juvenile corrections agency.  Youth in the agency’s care and custody receive individualized education, treatment, life skills and employment training from positive role models.   The young men earn the privilege to participate in outside activities such as sports, by demonstrating an impeccable record in behavior and effort in their studies.  The stories of some of these kids would break your heart, they have very few people on their side.  I view this as an incredible ministry opportunity for Faith, and would like your support and help in touching the hearts of these young men and those who are called to work with them. 
 
These young men will not have any fans outside of the faculty from their school.  Their parents will not be there. 
 
Here’s the message I want to send:  We love you.  Jesus Christ loves you, intentionally created you, and has a plan for your life.  You are just as valuable as any other person on planet earth.  We are supporting and affirming the effort you have made by earning the privilege to play.
 
Here is our plan:  I want as many people as we can get, to go down before the game and make a spirit line for them to run through as they take the field.  I want some LION fans to sit on their side and cheer for them throughout the game.  We will get a roster with their names and numbers, so the folks cheering for them can call them by name.  We will have the JH cheerleaders go to their side lines and cheer for them.  We will send them home with some sort of post game goody bag.
 
We look forward to your participation Friday night.
ONE HEART,
Kris Hogan
Athletic Director
Faith Christian School
Grapevine, Texas “
“Now the just shall live by Faith…”  Heb 10:38 “
The fans responded to their Coach’s request and the evening became a memory for everyone in attendance. Although the players from Gainesville were baffled by the cheers, it inspired them to play their hardest. In the second half, the Gainesville Tornados scored two touchdowns – the same number of touchdowns they had scored all season. The Gainesville Coach, Mark Williams, received a Gatoraide bath in spite of the fact that the team still lost.

On the bus ride back, the Gainesville players rummaged through the “goody bags”, provided as yet another gesture from their rivals, and waved good-bye to their new fans.

I think the best way to teach children important lessons is through stories. This is a story you should share with your kids tonight at bedtime… because this is the story of sportsmanship.

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To read two articles written by David Thomas with the Star-Telegram, check out

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1112890.html

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/1112890.html