Two months ago, I used this column to write about how retaliation of excessive celebration led to the benches clearing during a game between the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.
The discussion afterward didn't lean toward Tim Anderson's bat flip and loud celebratory yell. It was mainly about what the Royals did in response to it.
Royals pitcher Brad Keller elected to stick with tradition by delivering a fastball right at Anderson later in the game.
Then the usual benches-clearing shoving and squawking match ensued.
This is not an example of good sportsmanship.
A week and a half ago, the U.S. women's soccer team showed Thailand was no match for them and won 13-0 in a Group F match in the World Cup.
As more and more soccer balls ended up in the back of the Thailand net, more and more American players jumped up and down, hugged teammates and participated in numerous other celebrations in the record-setting performance.
Afterward, the Thailand players were noticeably distraught after the dismantling and the U.S. players did their best to show compassion for the tearful opposition.
This is an example of good sportsmanship.
So for the day-after discussions to be centered on how cruel it was for the U.S. to add to its insurmountable lead and continue to celebrate following each of the 13 goals, which broke a World Cup record.
Thailand showed no resentment toward the U.S., but there was plenty of backlash from those not on the pitch that day.
Carli Lloyd made sure to offer words of encouragement for Thailand goalkeeper Sukanya Chor Charoenying following the game.
Lloyd simply told her to keep her chin up after allowing all 13 goals on the biggest stage of women's soccer. And Sukanya thanked Lloyd in a post on Twitter.
There was no retaliation, or any verbal and physical altercations during or after the blowout.
The Thailand players simply allowed the U.S. squad do what any team does after scoring World Cup goals. It just occurred more often than usual.
The U.S. was the far better team - which was the case in all three of its group-stage matches - and the players just wanted to enjoy the moment.
For some of the players, this is likely their last World Cup. For others, it's their first.
Either way, they had four years of energy built up and used some of it to celebrate their dominance in the sport.
They've put in the time. They've put in the work. When it was finally time for some fun, they were criticized for it.
But it didn't seem the team on the other end of the record-breaking beat down had much to complain about.
The Thailand players knew the U.S. was better and they moved on to their next game.
Others can learn from that example.