Good post and I'm saddened by that also. I was just bragging about my son yesterday concerning this topic. He is a young man in his twenties now.
I recall a day when he was in the first grade. He told me that day that they were having sports olympics of some sort. There was a small scrawny kid that I suppose was considered nerdy. Nobody wanted to be his partner. My little boy told me proudly how he jumped forward and said "I'll be his partner!"
I was so proud of him and still am!