Q&A: Competitive Sports
Competitive Sports
Question
Does competitive sports strengthen bad character traits? Some argue that it is essentially Greek culture (measuring success against others rather than in relation to the person himself).
Answer
Absolutely not. A person always measures himself against others, and that is perfectly fine. Even in Torah study schools and yeshivot they hold competitions with prizes. About this it was said, “with all your might” — with both your inclinations. Someone who works on his character traits but does not develop his competitiveness will usually not get anywhere. As in that incident with the Men of the Great Assembly, who abolished the evil inclination for sexual immorality and discovered that not a single chicken egg was laid in all the Land of Israel. And if this is Greek culture, then may my portion be with them (“the beauty of Japheth in the tents of Shem”).
Discussion on Answer
There is definitely value in meeting challenges and developing physical abilities.
But each person is measured relative to his own abilities, by how much he has progressed, and not relative to the abilities and talents of someone else.
2. There is value in maintaining the body’s health. What value is there in shooting a basket?
In order to actualize your own abilities, you use competition with others.
You can use the competitive impulse in order to become more God-fearing and more refined in character than someone else. What benefit is there in using it for things that certainly do not determine who is a better person?