In ALLL SPORTS these need to go. From the Technical on Francis for slapping the back board to the 15 yarded in football for doing the funkee chicken in the endzone When did our poor widdle afwetes become a bunch of punks!! Jeezz If you don't want someong slapping the backboard PLAY DEFENSE AND STOP THE FRICKEN DUNK If you don't want the football put on your star DON'T LET THEM IN THE ENDZONE!!! Goodness. . . Athletes nowadays are so thin skinned Rocket River
Not when these are grown men, who should have enough inner strength to prevent themselves from crying, after someone taunts them. These aren't little girls, they are men we're talking about.
EXACTLY . . . I'm all for sportsmanship but If some loudmouth doesn't do it. . . Next time he runs over the middle. .. MAKE HIM REMEMBER!!! That is the way they USE to play it Rocket River
So what you're saying is, no rules on conduct other than that which directly affects play...? Terrell Owens vs Dallas two years ago-- OK? What if he mooned the crowd? Gave them the Hawaiian good luck sign? Still OK?
I've never heard of this. I'm intrigued. edit: i totally forgot to put my input! how about Bryan Cox giving the middle finger salute in that Miami v. Buffalo game years ago? you gotta draw a line somewhere for tauting. I think its fine as it is now b/c you want to maintain the integrity of the game. This isn't the WWF, or E... its a respected SPORT.
of course there are limits. . but d*mn . . . there is no consistancy and over some BS like rallying up the crowd. . . spiking it . . or something equally mundane. Rocket River EMOTION IS A PART OF THE GAME . ..
I think the taunting itself is the part of the game where the players aren't acting like grown men. I don't think the penalties exist to protect fragile egos on the other team, but rather to protect the league from fans like me deciding they don't want to fork over money to watch someone dance like an idiot after making one good play while his team is down by 20 points. JMHO. I relish the Barry Sanders type of play: scoring, handing the ball to the ref. All the celebrating has honestly decreased my interest in sports at all levels. Maybe I'm just old and cranky. Okay. Delete the maybe.
The dry cyberball mentality of the NFL has killed it for me. Rocket River what ever happend to billie 'white shoes' johnson
I agree that consistency would go a long way because I somewhat feel that the refs do it just to show who's the man. Calling taunting breaks up fights, and since the flashy atheletes being so badass with their overpaid contracts they need some enforcement before they think they're better than the other overpaid star who needs to prove something back.
There is an easy solution to this situation... If a player taunts another every official should turn his back (and face the taunters bench to make sure noone comes off the bench) and let the tough guy doing the taunting defend himself for 30 seconds. Anything goes. Guys can come off from the other bench. Make it a 53 on 1 situation and see if he ever taunts again. Act like you have been there before. Taunting just shows a major insecurity.
I don't have any problem with taunting. Sticks and stones. Can't be vulgar, directed at fans - but ok to woof at the opposition. Players must be thick-skinned enough to show up opposition on field, not escalate to physical retaliation. Personally, I enjoy a little finger-pointing, tounge-wagging, rump-shaking action. Robo-ball is dullsville. These are human beings, let them show a little emotion - and let the fans enjoy the emotional theatre. Otherwise, what's to involve you in the game ? Why not just watch a computer sim? Larry bird and MJ were huge trash talkers. Some of the anti-taunting is racist. Finally, as with anything in the magnified public eye, Shame will come quickly and with fury to any who act foolishly and without conscience. No one can escape the public ridicule, if they make themselves an ass - the tape never goes away. Blowing the whistle takes away accountability -rather than instilling it.
