Sportsmanship

This is my first blog, ever, and I felt like it'd be a good idea to talk about something that's been bothering me the past few days: sportsmanship. I was watching ESPN and they were talking about the leaders of the NCAA encouraging the handshake before and after games. They progressed to say that both the Oregon and Boise State quarterbacks were against it; and progressed further to say that Oklahoma State and Georgia were against it as well. These were two of the four biggest games this upcoming weekend, leaving out Oklahoma and Brigham Young, and Alabama and Virginia Tech. The Oklahoma State (Cowboys) coach was credited with saying something along the lines of "Given the intensity of the game against Georgia, I'm worried that a brawl may break out under the pre-game/post-game handshake." That's not a direct quote, its a paraphrase so excuse me if it's not perfect.
My comments on the whole thing are where is sportsmanship anymore? I play soccer regularly, and I've never had a problem helping a guy up or shaking hands. I understand frustrations or opponents being complete assholes, but it happens. You shake hands, walk of the field, no harm no foul.
Then you get great guys like LeGarrette Blount from Oregon who apparently got a foul remark from Boise State linebacker Byron Hout. This remark provoked Blount to forfeit the rest of the season in NCAA football. To top things off, Blount was a potential first round draft pick in the 2010 NFL draft.
I'm not saying that I've never wanted to violently retaliate another player for a dirty hit, a snide remark, or just an arrogant demeanor, I'm just saying if you can't distinguish between better judgement and realize that you need to chill and walk away you should probably not be a professional or a D-1 athlete.
This doesn't just pertain to football, but what about diving in professional soccer? If you would rather fake a fall than progress forth and rip through a defense and take a free kick, you are dumb.
Sportsmanship isn't something I'm great at, but look at it like this. They guy who you're playing is an asshole, he's a prick, he's arrogant, he's everything you hate in an opponent. Guess what, you have an opponent, which means you are still playing the game. Shake his hand, respect his play, because if all the assholes in sports left tomorrow, you'd be running down a field with no one passing you the ball, no defenders to break through. You'd be there all alone. So shake a dude's hand.