12/03/24
August 21, 2002
Hotdogging Just Part of the Game:
...To many blacks and Latinos, the dances and the showing off are simply no big deal. In fact, it's kind of funny. The idea that this is some self-destructive thing that ruins sportsmanship is absolutely ridiculous, as if a little dance while running the basepaths will lead to young kids' becoming Enron executives...
First, I think that making this an black/latino question is a mistake. White players show-boat as well. To me, the important word in the argument is "excessive". It makes me physically ill to see Terrell Owens dance and hoot and hollar every time he makes a catch (it's his job, it's the preseason, it wasn't even a first down). If he wants to be a cheerleader in the NFL, he needs a new uniform and bigger breasts. On the other hand, if a guy wants to strut, pose or dance after hitting a walk-off home run or scoring an important basket, that's fine with me. The problem isn't dancing or celebrating, the problem is doing that all the time. And for the record, Diaz hit a HUGE home run yesterday. Dance all you want kid. And that other kid called his shot... Now, that is just plain cool.
posted by 86 at 10:55 AM on August 21, 2002
Showboating and dancing are funny, and expressing emotions with playful movement is better than screaming profanities in celebration, in my opinion. Although I guess you can do both.
posted by insomnyuk at 11:17 AM on August 21, 2002
Boy I really go back and forth on this one. Sometimes I hate it and sometimes its okay. I like it when a player who is frequently successful has a little routine that they stick to when they succeed like spiking a ball some way, doing a back flip, putting his flaps down. I hate it when a guy who's been getting chumped all day finally does something good and celebrates it, like a defensive end with zero sacks who gets one with a minute left to go in the game. You don't see an offensive lineman hoot and holler every time there's no sack. But mostly, the cooler you are when you succeed the cooler you are period. How many goddamned touchdowns did Emmit Smith score in his career? And everytime he was nonchalant. What coach said it? "Boys, getting in the end zone is like having sex. Act like you've been there before."
posted by vito90 at 11:18 AM on August 21, 2002
I don't think they're worried about it being self-destructive as much as they're worried about the players insulting the other team. The kid certainly had a right to celebrate, but what he did seemed a bit over the top. And what vito said.
posted by LionIndex at 11:19 AM on August 21, 2002
While I am totally in favor of yanking these games off of television, there's no way you can find these kids at fault for what they're doing. Yes, I was aggravated last week when ? called his own shot past the centerfield fence, and it was probably out of hand, but look at the stage these teams are being put on these days. They weren't even in Williamsport yet and Jack Edwards and Harold Reynolds are calling this thing like it's the NLCS Game 7. You just can't blame the kids completely here. more responsibility needs to be put on the networks for going overboard on broadcasts and to the parents who overdo it with their kids. As for yesterday, have to agree with 86. He went a little overboard coming down the line into home plate, but man, what a completely huge homerun. I'd be lying if I were put in the same situation and said I wouldn't shake it up at least a little bit.
posted by rosey8810 at 11:29 AM on August 21, 2002
He went a little overboard coming down the line into home plate... Agreed, but at least they showed the coach laying into the kid after the umpire threatened to eject him for hotdogging. IMO, the other kid's "called shot" was much worse (especially since he only hit a double, but that's not the point), since the kid was apparently not reprimanded for making an ass out of himself and everybody associated with the team.
posted by mmesker at 01:14 PM on August 21, 2002
Insomnyuk, I couldn't agree more. The screaming I can generally do without. The best and most unintentionally hilarious recent celebration was Rich Beem's victory celebration at the PGA championship. Man, I wish I could find a video clip of that. That's a perfect reaction.
posted by Samsonov14 at 01:16 PM on August 21, 2002
He went a little overboard coming down the line into home plate... Well, the kids are only 12 or so, so maybe we can cut them a little slack for displays of immaturity, eh? On the other hand, I loved watching George Teague knock the crap out of Owens when the latter was showboating on the star in Texas Stadium.
posted by sad_otter at 02:57 PM on August 22, 2002
sad otter - That was huge when Teague ran fifty yards to school that loudmouth. I just wish he had gotten a cleaner, squarer hit on him. No matter how his career pans out I will always remember him for two big-time plays. When he stood up for his squad on the star and when he made that huge rip on an interception against Miami when they won the (?) Orange Bowl? I think that play was nullified by a penalty but I have a vague recollection of screaming at my TV at some family gathering when it happened.
posted by vito90 at 08:30 PM on August 22, 2002
I love this passage:
It's also interesting to watch various sportswriters hyperventilate as they climb on a high horse to say how awful what the Harlem kids are doing is. Pssst. . . . come closer. How about I let you in on a little secret? Sportswriters are some of the most ill-mannered, ill-tempered and unsportsmanlike people around, and few of us played in the Little League World Series. So what's our excuse?