An example of this was club rugby at the weekend. Whakarewarewa took on Te Puke in the second-to-last round of the Baywide rugby. The red and blacks, who have no show of making this year's semi-finals, played with only 14 players, at the start they only had 13 because a player turned up late.
Where has the loyalty gone? What happen to the other seven or so players who managed to turn up the week before but found it too hard to show for this game?
It's too easy for players to say "why should I play? We can't win now, I've got better things to do." Well tell that to the Whaka supporter who went to Te Puke to support the team, or the loyal volunteer who works behind the bar or in the kitchen every home game. What's in it for them?
They don't get paid, there are no cheers of joy for a good job done. They still have to turn up week after week even if there is no semi-final glory. They're there because they love the game and the club.
It brings me to a quote from the movie - Star Trek II: the Wrath of Khan. It was spoken by Mr Spock near the end of the movie: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few."
I think our sports players have become soft - where are the Wayne "Buck" Shelfords of this era?
It's part of sporting legend, how Shelford in a 1986 test match, played on after being rucked by the French, causing his scrotum to be ripped open and leaving his testicles hanging out. Unpreturbed, the All Black captain told the physio to stitch him back up on the side of the field and returned to the action.
At the risk of sounding like an old bugger - but back when I played sport, you did everything you could to make sure you were ready to take to the field.
Stupid, now when I think about it but I remember removing a cast from my arm to compete at a taekwondo nationals while also having to compete with a fractured toe.
Sure part of it was selfishness, I'd trained so hard leading up to the event only to fracture my toe and wrist at training the week out from the competition, I didn't want to give up the chance to win.
But the other reason was our club had a couple of younger fighters who were going for national titles and were nervous. I'd told them if I can get out there - then you can do the same.
I won bronze but the younger fighters went on to win gold, so it was worth it to see their success.
Another example of self before club or country is Sonny Bill Williams. He has the talent and skills to match his bank account - but it was his bank account rather than his sense of national pride which won out.
Don't get me wrong, I admire the guy and have met him several times. He's a nice bloke but I don't think Buck would have turned his back on his country to chase the yen.
I know SBW says he had made a promise to someone and didn't want to break that promise but sometimes the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Let's hope come Saturday, when the Whaka supporters turn up to Puarenga Park, to watch their premier side take to the field for the last game of the season, against Mt Maunganui, they have 22 players saying "this is for my club and not for me".
