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Why do we hate athletes who display emotions? (well actually we love them at first, but then the media/public turns on them after they are too successful).
It's what make them money, popular and what this goofy country wants to see obviously.
(Dennis Rodman - Reality Show nitemares that we have now...etc.)
Ever watch a baby?
We are naturally born with this ability. When we want something, we act out. When we are frustrated, we "fuss" until we feel better. Somewhere along the line, we are taught NOT to do this. But should it really bother you? Why? It's someone else's actions. How do they effect you just by observing?
Second point: isn't Celebration another honest trait to have? Don't we want to feel good and express a "outlet" of delight when we feel good?
So why do we "weigh" the amount of celebration and where is the "line" that is crossed?
I've never seen a negative post about Sergio hopping around when he's happy, but I see lots about a "fist pump" whether it's on the LPGA, or PGA.
Also, why the difference of acceptance between sports?
Trash talking, etc in basketball, but not in some others.
Your thoughts?

Rodman was displaying emotions when he kicked the cameraman in the crotch

I'd say the main difference is whether it's a contact sport...roundball is a contact sport, golf is not supposed to be .

If Sergio were enjoying the success and notoriety of the main fistpumper he'd probably be catchin' a lot more flak for dancing than he does at the moment...besides, the girls think it's cute. He'd have caught a lot more for milkin' the grip, too, but I digress.

Celebration is ok until it turns into taunting...like, don't think about plantin' the ball on the star at midfield without gettin' clobbered. Sometimes it looks that way even if it wasn't meant that way (Justin Leonard and throng @ the Ryder Cup). Trash talk is more acceptable, imo, in adversarial contests than it is in sports that are more individual pursuits. Everything's got it's limits, though, and there are certainly gray areas.

Sad, but true. Astute observation. Go ahead, talk trash...just smile when you do it, pilgrim.

Good topic, Grb.

Shade

Good answer Shade.
I've just been noticing here with the people I play with that some are capable of performing in the midst of trash talking and some are definately bothered by it.
I'm wondering if it has something to do with each person's past.
Individuals who are successful in sports when younger and therefore could "be" the trash talker may be more accepting of it in general, than a person who was always on the receiving end of it, and may not have the tolerance for it now as an adult.

Well, aside from being an old fogey, I am VERY old school when it comes to sports. There was NO trash talking in my day ( I lettered in FB and basketball) because it was considered poor sportsmanship. We played with emotion, but we did it without a lot of celebrating and fanfare and the ,"Hey! Look at ME!" attitude that athletes today have. I don't need a 10 min. celebration in the endzone after a td-just give the ball to the ref and get on with the game! Please! Let's put the 'sport' back into sportsmanship!

mdcrab...(off topic but....)
Even though I'm not in MD anymore, I'm sure glad Balt. didn't pick up Owens.!!!!

While I don't enjoy watching the excessive celebrations (most of the time), I usually don't have any problem with players who show emotion in the "heat of battle." It's when it occurs off the field that I believe it begins to cross the line. Certain things are OK, but when it comes to downright trash-talking, leave it for the field guys.

I think at times we forget that this is how these people earn money to live. If you know every goal you kick is another 10 grand well then you are going to be happy and have every right to express that how you see fit. If you miss a putt that costs you 50grand you are going to be ****** of. There seems to be some romance attaached to sportsmanship and i agree whith the values of it but lets face it,sportsmanship and loylalty went out the window when massive contracts came in. The main criticism in golf today is they are robot like in thier approach to emotion, I say to all the wimps who cant handle a little bit of trash talk or fist pumping should understand that most sports are great levlers and if a player takes it to far it will come back to bite them at some stage.

Celebrations don't bother me. When they turn into some pre-conceived dance & taunt is when it crosses the line , IMO. I'm 50 & played organized football for 8 years. Trash-talking was part of the fun in the flow of the game. After the fact when it becomes an issue of rubbing your opponent's nose in his loss , that's where it crosses the line for me. When it becomes more of a display for the observers, I lose patience.

Grnyed-ME TOO! Baltimore would eat a guy ike that alive!
A perfect example of how low athletes have sunk was in the Ravens/Saints game the other night; Boller was decked while completing a TD pass and the Saints player stood over him pointing his finger and taunting him.This is uncalled for and should lead to an ejection IMHO.

being an aussie i guess the trash talk cultre has'nt reached our sores yet. About as bad as it gets here is when an AFL player will miss a shot at goal and the player standing the mark will walk up to him, give him a little nudge and say good shot mate.
I totaly disaggree whith rubbing thier nose in it in a public way like that but the odd bit of sledging is all part of the fun of competition so long as it stays on the field.
What did the guy who done it say "stop scorin on me please I'm gunna get the sack".
What an idiot.

It is all about entertainment. Also, its about ego. The bigger the ego, the bigger the wallet, the bigger the wallet, the bigger the ego. So, bigger ego, bigger wallet, more people are going to watch.

Take for example, one of the best forwards to ever play the game. Tim Duncan. He is one of those great players people "forget" about. He isn't flashy. He doesn't wear a whole bunch of "bling." He doesn't show too much raw emotion. No one has anything to characterise him by except for his ability to block, pass, rebound, dunk, etc., etc.

But you have Tiger. Whenever I think of Tiger, I see him pumping his fist. Whenever I think about Michael Jordan, I see him jumping in the air pumping his fist after schooling Craig Ehlo (again) in the '89 playoffs against Cleveland.

As far as Terrel Owens goes, I have to admit, I'm a fan. I don't care too much for his personality, but it is sure as heck entertaining! Plus, he is one heck of a player. I'm sorry, but I really respect the man for doing what he did in the Superbowl last year. Now he just needs to learn to get along with atleast one of his quarterbacks. Then he'll be hall-of-fame worthy!

And you don't drink beer either. Some of the funniest sledging on a cricket field has come from the likes of Rod Marsh,Lillee and others. Steve Waugh is also highly regarded.

Loss of self control in an emotional high on a sports field can be percieved as a lack of respect for your opponent. One man's highlight is another's low light. If you've just holed a 45' putt to win the Open, it means someone else has just lost it. You never saw Palmer or Nicklaus forget that fact , and Payne Stewart remembered it when he beat Phil , and Faldo when he beat Greg.

Think you hit it on the head for me there.
:nodsmiley

Good point. Some athletes have class, but far too many don't and the world's media seems to focus way too often, and way too long, on those that don't.

And what ever happened to the old adage "act like you've done it before?"