11/05/24
March 24, 2005
Let's See a Show of Hands: A group of grade-schoolers in Acton, Mass., is pushing for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox to break a Major League rule and shake hands before their game April 11. "After children's sports games, we shake hands with the team we're playing," they wrote in a letter to Commissioner Bud Selig. "If kids can show good sportsmanship, then professionals can too."
Should we really be encouraging children to use professionl athletes as their role models?
posted by bperk at 12:27 PM on March 24, 2005
Should we really be at a place where professional athletes need to look to children as their role models?
posted by rocketman at 12:47 PM on March 24, 2005
I've never understood why pro athletes don't shake hands after the game. Doing it before the game seems a little distracting, but why not after? (I read about the rule, but what's the reason for the rule?)
posted by dusted at 12:48 PM on March 24, 2005
I read about the rule, but what's the reason for the rule? cooties?
posted by jasonspaceman at 01:00 PM on March 24, 2005
Pfff. Whatever. I wrote a letter to Selig requesting that Curt Shilling gets to jam his thumb up Derek Jeter's cornhole before the game on opening day, but I never even got a response. What's up with that? Stupid schoolkids.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:07 PM on March 24, 2005
After the game: perfectly fine (and normal) sporting tradition Before the game: GHEY! The two managers can shake hands when they meet with the ump to hand in the lineup cards, but that's it. What's next? Hugs at first base after every hit/walk? The only reason I'd want to see them shake hands before the game is so that one of the players would then twist his counterpart's arm behind him, put him a choke hold and then a quick backbreaker (like how most "handshaking" moments end up in the WWE). Then we'd get a nice brawl going...
posted by grum@work at 01:34 PM on March 24, 2005
to bperk: If we are going to publize professional athletes as great people, why would we not want them as children role models? Personally, I think it's a great idea and should be done.
posted by dani2457 at 02:40 PM on March 24, 2005
People don't want to see rivals shake hands. It's insincere and utterly stupid.
posted by football freak at 03:57 PM on March 24, 2005
I propose the children of Acton get together and shake hands with some kids outta Southie. Bet their parents would be fired up for that piece of bridge building and community healing.
posted by yerfatma at 04:09 PM on March 24, 2005
It's insincere and utterly stupid. Ditto to that. "We're all friends" is yet another lie I'd like to keep out of the game, thanks.
posted by dfleming at 04:52 PM on March 24, 2005
I would pay extra to see professional athletes attack each other with two-by-fours after the game. Seriously, though, what's wrong with respecting your opponent? Nobody's saying they have to be lifelong buddies and split milkshakes.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 05:00 PM on March 24, 2005
People don't want to see rivals shake hands. It's insincere and utterly stupid. posted by football freak at 3:57 PM CST on March 24 I think its cool when rivals shake hands. I like it when baksetball players go and shake the other coaches hand before the game whent the are interduced. I have seen it alot at High school games... neat Idea!
posted by daddisamm at 05:39 PM on March 24, 2005
After a series maybe - not before the start of the season. Let's not bury those hachets before they get a chance to get really sharp. Nice of the kids to give it the old college try, though.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:44 PM on March 24, 2005
Seriously, though, what's wrong with respecting your opponent? It makes for shitty TV. Seriously though, I wanna see old footage of Fisk and Munson punching each other, Bill Lee coming out of that scrum with a broken arm and his hat askew, etc. Not Tony Womack and Jay Payton making nice.
posted by yerfatma at 06:08 PM on March 24, 2005
There seems to be a huge reality disconnect when fans want the players to be mortal enemies, but David Wells will pitch the opener for the Red Sox.
posted by dusted at 06:19 PM on March 24, 2005
Next you're going to tell me Hulk Hogan and Hollywood Hogan are the same person. Who's really the crazy one here?
posted by yerfatma at 08:59 PM on March 24, 2005
Absolutely moronic. These guys don't need to shake hands. Alot of them are probably friends and get together after the game to hang out and party. It's a rivalry between teams. Don't take that away from us, you hypersensitive soccer-moms... feeding your kids this crap. (I admit it. I've had a beer or two. Still pisses me off, though.)
posted by sixpacker at 09:25 PM on March 24, 2005
I like seeing a mutual show of respect by sportsman, but not when it's horseshit, which anything between the Sox and Yanks would be. I hope the Sox really rub it in the Yanks face. God knows the Yank fans were during the playoffs. Hell, if nothing else the Sox should do it due to this prick move. http://img94.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img94&image=arodtwat7bf.jpg
posted by Drood at 12:41 AM on March 25, 2005
Perhaps in American sports "we're friends" and "we respect each other" are lies (although I doubt it), but it's normal in rugby union, rugby league, and cricket. Opposing teams will normally applaud one another's centuries, and swapping shirts is common after rugby internationals. And rugby - either code - is a great deal less delicate than baseball. I think the people who want to see hard feelings and hate between the players are the people with the problems.
posted by rodgerd at 04:49 AM on March 25, 2005
I don't WANT to see hard feelings and hate. However, I can do nothing about the fact that they ARE there. And the fact that they ARE there means I don't want to see some phony show of respect. If the teams love each other, great, shake hands. If they hate each other, don't be a hypocrite about it. There's enough hypocrisy in sports without adding that to the mix. The management of both the Yanks and the Sox are reported to be considering this idea. It's a PR move and little else. It's a 2 minute segment on Sports Center. It's a big story for the papers to knock the steroid issue out of the spotlight, if only for a day or two. Call me cynical, but I buy this about as much as I'd buy Manchester City and Manchester United holding hands and dancing into the sunset.
posted by Drood at 05:24 AM on March 25, 2005
Alot of them are probably friends and get together after the game to hang out and party. mmm... from what they have said last season, in the offseason and in ST, I am going to guess that the players, for the most part, aren't inter-team socializing. Manny and Enrique Wilson, maybe. Otherwise, I'm going to say no.
posted by jerseygirl at 07:05 AM on March 25, 2005
It's funny to read so many adults who are against a simple act of civility and sportsmanship that reinforces the idea it's just a game. Do we really need to pretend that the Yankees-Red Sox feud is taken seriously by the current group of millionaires waging it? Sports is serious business! Don't smile at Derek Jeter! He is your lifelong mortal enemy until we sign him. I like the NHL's post-game, straight-out-of-Y-sports handshake line. (For those who aren't familiar with it, the NHL was a pro ice hockey league in Canada and the U.S. that folded after 88 years because of a short-sighted labor dispute.)
posted by rcade at 07:28 AM on March 25, 2005
Maybe they should not only shake hands before the game, but not keep score as well. Losing is a tough experience and feelings can get hurt. Also, fans should be ejected for audibly cheering/rooting for their team. No need to show the other guy up.
posted by crank at 07:59 AM on March 25, 2005
I don't recall anyone getting upset when the Dodgers came out of the dugout last year to shake the Cardinals hands and congratulate them on their division series win. Oh, wait, it was after the series/game--the old little league/Y tradition. Shake hands, don't shake hands whatever, just play ball! (I'm juiced that baseball is almost here.)
posted by trox at 08:29 AM on March 25, 2005
(For those who aren't familiar with it, the NHL was a pro ice hockey league in Canada and the U.S. that folded after 88 years because of a short-sighted labor dispute.) Very funny, rcade. I don't understand how anyone can be against setting a good example for kids. Our culture has set up athletes and celebrities as idols...kids see it every day. Encouraging these players to show kids that even adversaries can show respect to each other can only bring good results. Would it be a hollow gesture? Sure...but an 8 year old may not pick up on that unless some idiot adult can't keep his mouth shut. Now...will that stop the mid-August brawl after The Unit buzzes Manny's tower? No...but showing kids (and some adults) that what happens on the field stays on the field is a good lesson.
posted by stofer71 at 10:55 AM on March 25, 2005
I don't recall anyone getting upset when the Dodgers came out of the dugout last year to shake the Cardinals hands and congratulate them on their division series win. yeah, but that was something that the 2 teams hashed out amongst themselves. it wasn't mandated by mlb. I don't understand how anyone can be against setting a good example for kids. i think a better example to set for kids would be for the fans on both side to act with a bit more civility. it's not the players that are the problem.
posted by goddam at 12:05 PM on March 25, 2005
i think a better example to set for kids would be for the fans on both side to act with a bit more civility. it's not the players that are the problem. Except when they have the annual bench clearing brawl... I guess.
posted by jerseygirl at 04:31 PM on March 25, 2005
i think a better example to set for kids would be for the fans on both side to act with a bit more civility. it's not the players that are the problem. You are right about that. I have yet to take my daughter to the ballpark. She is still too young to here the kind of things I hear every time I go. Baseball isn't as bad as football, though. I live in the Bay Area and I'll never take her to a Raider game.
posted by stofer71 at 04:39 PM on March 25, 2005
Only if Dr. Phill can mediate the handshaking.