how we show respect
leave place better than found it
there’s manners involved
From the article, What does a spotless locker room have to do with success? For these coaches, everything by Rustin Dodd, (New York Times, Sept. 30, 2025), where Mr. Dodd writes:
“We always talk in our program about ‘winning the response,’” Lea said earlier this month. “There’s a respect that we have for all the things we come in contact with, and that certainly includes the spaces where we prepare for our games and execute for our games.
“There’s an appreciation, and we never want to be entitled when it comes to those things. How we show respect is we try to leave a place better than we found it.”
“Everything about our program is centered around that,” Scelfo said. “The way we do small things is the way we do all things. When you go to somebody’s house, you don’t leave it dirty. You clean it. If you finish eating, you pick up your plate. There’s manners involved.”
Hard to believe this article was written in 2025.
Look at the words and phrases used, not written by the writer, but in quoting people involved in sports today.
There’s an appreciation …
We never want to be entitled …
How we show respect …
Leave a place better than we found it …
way we do small things, way we do all things …
You don’t leave it dirty …
You clean it …
If you finish eating, you pick up your plate …
There’s manners involved …
Of course, we are talking about sports.
That such a level of expectations might exist for the political leaders in this country is asking too much, don’t you agree?
I mean, read over that list again.
Did the thought that the writer of the article in question might be writing about our leaders EVER cross your mind.
It is sad really.
It comes to mind what Ben Franklin said about George Washington.
The first man put at the helm will be a good one;
… nobody knows what sort may come afterwards.
Manners involved … indeed.
No Haiku For You 