While sitting at a Sac State volleyball game last week, I noticed something. I noticed a kind of sportsmanship that isn?t seen a whole lot in this day and age. The team was completely supportive of each other in every situation. It didn?t matter whether they made a mistake or a great play it was high-five?s all around. It showed me the real beauty that collegiate sports has to offer.

College sports promotes a team concept. They try to do whatever it takes to put individualism on the back burner, and create the type of team unity that represents the university and the student body as a whole. It creates an atmosphere that is unmatched by any professional sport, yet we as fans tend to forget about going out to support our Sac State teams. We forget to support the athletes who compete for the love of the sport and the natural high that they receive with the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.

We?d rather spend our hard earned money on professional sports. We?d rather see guys like 49ers wide-receiver Terrell Owens last week against Dallas make a spectacle of himself with a touchdown celebration at mid-field. Then Owens has the audacity to say that he did it to “thank God” for giving him the talent to play the game. What a jerk!

I?m a 49ers fan, but I can?t stand the thought of spending my money on a 49ers ticket, so that Owens can make his millions.

Or then there?s the option of sitting at home and ordering up Mike Tyson?s next match on pay-per-view. That?s a great way to watch boxing, that is, if you like spending $70 or more on a three round fight between Tyson and some nobody. Watching Tyson and Don King get rich off of you. Nope?that?s not for me.

I?d much rather pull out my OneCard, and get into any Sac State game that I want for free. There I can watch sports the way that they are supposed to be played. I think you should too. You should save the money that you were going to spend on a 49ers ticket, the Tyson fight, or the WWF pay-per-view, and come out to Sac State and watch some real sports. After all, our sports teams are a great link between the university that you attend and the community that surrounds us.

Be a part of Sac State! It?s fun, it?s school spirit, and it?s free. And I guarantee that you won?t see Lamont Webb or Scott Towne showing up the opposition after a touchdown catch, and you won?t see Sara Chlebana or Tasman Dwyer doing a ridiculous looking dance after winning a match. They have too much pride to do that. They represent Sac State when they put on their uniforms?not themselves.

So go watch Sac State sports. Then take the money that you were about to put into the pockets of some guy who?s already richer than you?ll ever be, and do something more constructive with it. Buy a new bike, or get a membership to a health club. Or you can do what I?m going to do, and get yourself a season lift ticket at one of Tahoe?s finest resorts. Do it! You might even start enjoying the benefits of sports and exercise for yourself, and stop living vicariously through individuals who are only in it for the money and self glory that is delivered to them. Comments? E-Mail [email protected]