How often it is the case that achievements in the sporting arena reflect and help construct the character of a nation.
Most of the time, this phenomenon is a positive one, producing not only images of heroism and tenacity but also considerable financial benefit for individuals, teams, codes and entire countries.
Then there are the other times.
On Monday, during the Straits Cup basketball tournament, the Taiwan Beer side was a few minutes away from losing its match against China's Jiangsu Nangang when one of the Jiangsu players, Meng Da (
It was a brazenly violent foul, and Meng was suitably rewarded with an early flight home. The incident left a nasty taste in the mouth, but that wasn't the end of it.
Taiwan Beer's team management ignored an apology from the Jiangsu side and took their side out of the competition.
This decision was contemptible. Pulling out of the contest not only points to the unprofessional and cowardly nature of the team officials but also, regrettably, to the lie-down-and-die mentality of the players, who could not bring themselves to publicly object to their removal from the competition, let alone stand up for the right of their fans and major sponsor to see them compete.
A more competitive reaction would have been a statement of increased commitment and a warning to future opponents that rough tactics would be useless and meet with a stern response -- on and off the field.
Unfortunately, this craven display is symptomatic of a code that is full of self-congratulation over its domestic gloss. Look beyond the surface, however, and the nation's basketball competition reveals itself to be a self-absorbed preening festival for underperforming sportsmen.
Worse, the basketball authorities seem to take no responsibility for the national basketball team's consistently passionless performances against other nations with far less resources and no professional support.
The fact that all this took place against a Chinese team of whom the Taiwan Beer team were said to be "fearful" makes it even harder to bear.
All the years of compulsory military service between the players apparently failed to inject one iota of cross-strait tension or pride in the game, which was, despite all of Taiwan Beer's whining, a timid and dull affair overall.
US basketball superstar Kobe Bryant was in town yesterday, and it was fitting that he should spend time with the nation's only basketballers who have real passion -- school-age children -- rather than these imposters.
Taiwan Beer has shown itself unworthy of support in any competition. The team has embarrassed themselves, their code and Taiwanese sports fans generally.
We suggest the players and their inept minders reconsider their career trajectory. Selling tickets to games involving real athletes with ambition and guts such as Taiwanese tennis queens Chan Yung-jan (
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