Where do babies come from?

That's the question that every parent can't wait to answer? (sarcasm intended) We're a curious bunch aren't we? We being humans of course and from a young age no doubt. Someone once said something to the effect that "the seeds of doubt fuel discovery". Point taken. Advantage to whichever sage coined that one. So here's the rub. Displays of ethical conduct in sport are heralded, unfortunately and usually because it appears sporadically. I saw a youtube video about a boy who lost his mom to cervical cancer during his basketball season. He was a high schooler and I believe that the day of his mom's death he had a game. At first he hadn't planned to play which would be expected but then he decided otherwise, showed up in the second quarter and played. Consistent with the rules, his team was assessed a technical foul because his name wasn't on the official roster at the start of the game. The opposing team was awarded two technical foul shots which they missed on purpose out of respect or the latecomer and his recently deceased mother.

Obviously such a display of courage and compassion bears mentioning. I'm not sure how most teams woul have handled the free throws. But my question is two-part. Where does a team get such compassion? Where do any of us get it for that matter? I know tons of agnostics who don't buy that we get our motivations from diametrical spiritual influences - God or the Devil. But is that too far fetched - the classicly polarized enemies of supernatural lore? (no sarcasm intended) See, there are hints of compassion, sportmanship, courage and selflessness exuded in sports from the lowest levels to the upper echelon of fortune famous athletes. But even the hints lend themselves to the assumption that "something" is warring within competitors against avarice and compulsive demagoguery. Enter my question again, "Where does the sense to act ethically originate?" Why do we avoid this conversation and pretend we're having it when we say that players need to act more civilized?

How about we cut to the ground of meaning, the core of the good. Whatever produces the good in athletes should be explored shouldn't it? I mean if we go after the goose and nurture it doesn't the fable hold that more of the desired eggs are sure to follow? I think most of us would rather answer the baby question :-).