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Not so much.

There have been two stories dominating the news recently. Well, apart from the other dominating stories, like what Hillary and Barack are saying about each other in their ongoing schoolyard brawl. The two stories – which give completely disparate views on sportsmanship – showcase what “good parenting” (or bad) can do for kids (when they are, in fact, kids and when they are also a bit older).

The first story involves two 10-year-old friends. These kids grew up together. They played on the same soccer teams. By all accounts, these boys were the kind of best friends that we remember having as kids and wish we still had after the rigors of life take over.

The boys were at a professional soccer game when THE Soccer God of soccer gods, David Beckham, gave them one of his game jerseys. One jersey. Two friends. What to do? Perhaps they could frame the jersey with a nice plaque commemorating the day they received it together. They could split time with their possession and it could be something that would bind them forever.

Not so much.

Instead, the boys couldn’t figure out how to share the jersey. And, amazingly…neither could their parents. Instead, both families have retained attorneys. Friendships will be destroyed. Money will be burned. Hopefully, the judge will have the good sense to order the parents to donate the jersey to a charity auction. That way – neither family will get the jersey and the boys will end up learning a lesson far more important.

It’s only a David Beckham jersey, for crying out loud. Friendships like the one these boys have can last a lifetime. That jersey hangs on a freaking wall and offers no support. The story makes me sick. The parents make me sick. As sick as those parents make me, however, this other story has a “their parents must be proud” finale that offers such hope for the world.

In a recent women’s college softball playoff game, a senior, whose team was behind, hit a three-run homerun to put her team into the lead. Unfortunately, and tragically, as she was running the bases, she blew out her knee. Unable to complete her run to home plate – she would either be called out if her teammates helped her (since they were in the dugout), or she could have a pinch runner and her homerun would be officially ruled a single. Quite a dilemma?

Not so much.

Two players on the OPPOSING TEAM, a team that would lose the game if she scored her run, carried her around the bases – stopping to allow her to gently place her left foot on each base. Those women were clearly not raised by the wolves suing each other for a freaking soccer jersey. Their parents must be incredibly proud. The video of these women is on YouTube and their story has received national attention.

While it’s slightly sad that an act of sportsmanship needs to receive such national attention – because sportsmanship is dead – what these women did is so above and beyond. It just provides hope. I salute them, but I really salute their parents. They’ve clearly “done good.”

It’s obvious that we have this huge impact on our kids. I just wonder if the boys’ parents have any idea just how much damage they are doing to their kids. I wish the women’s parents could call them and say, “STOP! What are you thinking?”