Many Americans will probably be unfamiliar with Wrexham FC, the oldest football (soccer) club in Wales and the third oldest professional club in the world that plays in the National League in England. But as the success of the Netflix tv series "Welcome to Wrexham" continues to grow and attract new fans, more people are becoming aware of the team, not only because of the program, but because their owners are American: Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Today they played a crucial game against Notts County and won 3-2. Apart from the exultation, what struck me was the class and grace with which Ryan Reynolds spoke about his team's opponents. We live in an age where a win-at-all-costs attitude is celebrated. The recent cases of extremely boorish and poor sportsmanship that were displayed during the latter stages of the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament have rankled many. One player punched another, and two others used a "you-can't-see-me" gesture; one directed toward a team, the other toward one individual in particular. This is symptomatic of what former New York University President John Sexton calls a "colosseum culture". It is no longer just about winning; it is about denigrating your opponent in a fashion that makes for click bait on social media platforms.
So it was a wonderful breath of fresh air to watch Ryan Reynolds be interviewed after the Wrexham-Notts County game in which he extolled his team's opponents and made sure that they were also recognized for their magnificent season. It is nice to see that grace and dignity still exist in some parts of the sports world.
