Regarding downplaying accomplishments and such, just look at what can happen when a high school softball team completely demolishes another one:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003639381_ko28.html

The winning coach does nothing but talk about how terrible it is, saying, among other things, "If anything positive can come out of this, it's that we can implement some new rules so this never happens again." Sheesh.