Warriors and sportsmen [View all]
One of my favorite stories in the world of shooting is from the 1912 Olympics. That year a young lieutenant from the US Army finished fifth in the first Olympic modern pentathlon. His name was George S. Patton.
The pentathlon included: Pistol shooting, 300 meter freestyle swimming, Fencing, Equestrian cross-country steeplechase and a Four kilometer cross-country foot race. Patton placed 21st in pistol shooting, sixth in swimming, and third in each of the other events. If not for the poor placement in shooting, Patton may have won the gold. His shooting score was probably an error. Out of 20 scored shots, more than half were bulls-eyes. The remaining shots were between 7 and 9 out of a possible 10 except for two. One of Patton's four groupings was so tight that two shots were ruled as complete misses. I feel that's highly unlikely.
Patton's reaction after the event:
There was not a single incident of a protest or any unsportsmanlike quibbling or fighting for points which I regret to say marred some of the other civilian competitions at the Olympic Games.
Each man did his best and took what fortune sent like a true soldier, and at the end we all felt more like good friends and comrades than rivals in a severe competition, yet this spirit of friendship in no manner detracted from the zeal with which all strove for success."
Today, 100 years later, another man revealed his character in what he didn't say. Mitt Romney failed to correct some demented individual when she accused President Obama of treason. Both of these men are definitely characters, but only one actually had any character.
= new reply since forum marked as read