Celebrations: What’s OK, what’s too much
Aug. 22, 2008 @ 10:34 a.m. by Joannaby joanna
I admit, I waffle on this subject. Some things bug me, others don’t.
Are you bothered by Usain Bolt after his 100 meters? (rather, during his 100 meters) I wasn’t. I was so blown away by how much he dominated the field and how easy he ran, that I was giddy along with him. Now I talked to one of my brothers last night, and he thinks Bolt is a big-time you-know-what. I just chalk it up to sprinters being sprinters.
What about the Jamaican woman who won the 100? Fraser. She was so cute with her huge, brace-filled smile, as she lifted her arms. I loved it. It was pure emotion. I love the athletes that race around the track with their flags on their backs — even if they didn’t get the gold.
Moving on. Let’s take Randy Moss’s little mooning incident several years ago. He faked that he mooned everyone after catching a touchdown. The commentator said that it was so horrible, they wouldn’t show a replay. Are you kidding me? Was it really that bad? I thought it was kind of funny. But then, I admit to liking creative celebrations. As much as I am not a fan of Terrell Owens, I liked the Sharpie incident, I liked the pom-poms.
Let’s take this closer to home: Southeast’s Adonis Gantt, as soon as the Buffaloes won the 6A title in March, a friend brought him a pen out of the stands, he took off one shoe, signed it and threw it, then he took off the other, signed it and threw it. OK or not?
Does it matter if you’re a Southeast fan or not? I thought it was creative, although a little self-involved. I made it the lead of my story, which I considered understandable considering Southeast had just dominated Lawrence and it was a fairly boring game. However, I did take heat from readers who said I should only write positive things, that I never write anything positive about young black men in our community. I didn’t quite understand that because I wasn’t really bothered with what Gantt did. Neither was coach Carl Taylor.
How about in a baseball game — is it OK for the pitcher to pump his fist after a key strikeout? Why not? Because baseball is the only classy sport, where it’s showing someone up and not showing emotion? I do understand both sides. Chalk it up to me being a stereotypical girl, but I love the emotion of sports. It makes me feel bad when I see an Olympian stumble and lose a chance at a medal, but I love the emotion that comes with victory, too.
So what’s OK in high school? Should every football player hand the ball to the official after a touchdown or is he allowed to show some emotion? What plays should have celebration? A sack — only at the end of the game?
I do want to know what you think, and while you’re at it, tell me your favorite celebrations and what the most creative ones you have seen are, too.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:25 am
Who cares what Bolt did? What are you going to do, run him down?
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August 22nd, 2008 at 11:53 am
I think that any show of emotion is great as long as it is not done in the face of an opponent or in a manner that degrades the opponent. A fist pump, spike, dunk over the goal post, Lambeau leap, flex, etc. are shows of emotion and okay in my book. I don’t mind the “act like you’ve been there before” approach either- Barry Sanders, Darren Sproles, etc. If the celebration gets long and drawn out delaying the progression of the game then it should be penalized also. The sharpie, pompons, cell phone, etc. are clever but they do tend to be showmanship and in some cases have delayed the progression of the game.
On a similar subject, if they are going to give penalties for diving into the end zone as they have been, the only way it is going to be stopped is to wipe the score off the board and penalize 15 yards from the point the player left his feet and loss of a down. So instead of having a touchdown, it is going to be 1st or whatever & 17, 18 yards- absolutely no 1st & 10 from the 17, 18.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
G, great point.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Bolt was outstanding from begining to end he is refreshing if you ask me. Before the race hes like a little kid enjoying himself , after you can tell its not planned hes just out there having fun and during He is unbelievevable. “Haters” make up a great part of our society these days if you ask me, Get over it or beat Him !!!
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I thought what Gantt did was pretty fly.
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August 22nd, 2008 at 4:39 pm
To quote Kansas own John Riggins, “Loosen up Sandy baby”.
Bolt’s display appeared to be a spontaneous response to his experience. If it was calculated he hid it well.
If the display is not directed at another player to belittle or enrage her then I have no problem with it.
Moss’ faux-mooning incident has a context that everyone tends to ignore. Select, veteran Packer fans have a cherished tradition of mooning the opposing players as they exit their team bus. Just good ole boys and girls having some fun with the other teams. Randy Moss showed terrible disrespect for the classiest fans in the world.
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August 23rd, 2008 at 12:18 am
Joanna, you need to blog about soccer….
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August 24th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I think it’s fine for athlethe to celebrate. But someone had a point, doesnt seem like NFL wants it stopped or they would just not count the touchdown!
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August 24th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I’m OK with almost any celebration that doesn’t intentionally incite the opposing team. Gantt throwing his signed shoes in the stands. . .it’s whatever - I didn’t buy them. It was however, disappointing to see the SE team photo after winning state that the eagle chose to publish, I guess the gang sign being flashed was somehow overlooked by the adults that make those decisions. Unfortunately, the kids who read the paper didn’t overlook it. It’s all perspective I guess.
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August 24th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I thought it was interesting during the 4×400 relay that Ato Boldin was up in arms about what the Great Britain dude did at the end of his heat, looking from side-to-side and then waggling the baton. First of all the GB dude is an idiot because it was a heat. Secondly, Ato certainly didn’t say anything bad about Bolt when he looked around.
Weird.
I do think the waggling of the baton was a bit much, though.
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August 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Terrell Owens is simply the BEST WR in the League.. hands down. How long he can stay ontop remains to be seen.
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August 26th, 2008 at 7:05 am
A 9 year old boy was told that he was too good to pitch…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475
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August 26th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/8488564/9-year-old-barred-for-pitching-too-well?MSNHPHCP>1=39002
Another article on that 9 year old kid.
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