Good Sport?

The last thing I want to do is shake someone's hand after I have lost. The second to last thing I want to do is shake someone's hand after I have beaten them and I know they have no desire to shake my hand. I think a good sport is someone who can shake that hand with no smile on their face.

If I am on the losing end of the contest in spite of my best effort and the best effot of my teammate, I have no problem shaking hands with the winners.

There are teams who can beat you seven days a week and twice on Sundays.

Other teams are more evenly matched and may have executed or prepared better for the game.

Other teams are just the beneficiaries of poor play and less than stellar execution.

I put on my cleats believing that I can defeat any opponent with the help of my teammates. It is up to the other team to prove otherwise.

I'm with Coach May in that I hate the "required" post game handshake. It's unnecessary and can possibly lead to more trouble because I know there were times I wanted to punch the other coach in face based on the condescending tone if they won or their smart alec comments if we win. But because it's more trouble than it's worth I keep my mouth shut but if we weren't shaking hands then we avoid that.

There are teams / coaches I want to shake hands with due to the amount of respect I have for them and they have for my team and me. But you can't force that respect - that happens over time. I'm not opposed to players / coaches shaking hands after the game but I'm opposed to it being some sort of social requirement just to make others happy.

I would not have wanted to shake hands with the Jets today. What a classless bunch. Starting with the head coach.

P.S. I'm not a Pats fan. Couldn't have cared less who won that game. But I will be rooting hard for the Steelers next week.

I don't know if it was original but it held true all my life for good advice from my dad, "It's okay to lose; it's not okay to get used to the idea."

Shaking hands sort of sets an example of good manners/behavior for the younger ones watching. (Although I guess it wouldnt hurt to have a little clump of mud in the palm if your hand when doing so!) (j/k)

Not shaking hands bothers me less than showboating and taunting a team that is already down and out of the game. That's not good sportsmanship and not a good thing to do because the next time you meet them it most probably will give them incentive to knock you down a couple notches. Maybe even out of a play-off game.

Kinda like the Patriots and Jets. Bring on the Steelers!

It doesn't matter to me whether Pros do it or not.

But I don't think kids should be allowed to walk away from a losing game without taking care of that little piece of uncomfortable business.

quote:

Originally posted by coach2709:
I'm with Coach May in that I hate the "required" post game handshake. It's unnecessary and can possibly lead to more trouble because I know there were times I wanted to punch the other coach in face based on the condescending tone if they won or their smart alec comments if we win. But because it's more trouble than it's worth I keep my mouth shut but if we weren't shaking hands then we avoid that.

There are teams / coaches I want to shake hands with due to the amount of respect I have for them and they have for my team and me. But you can't force that respect - that happens over time. I'm not opposed to players / coaches shaking hands after the game but I'm opposed to it being some sort of social requirement just to make others happy.

You saved me a post. I agree completely.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I would not have wanted to shake hands with the Jets today. What a classless bunch. Starting with the head coach.

P.S. I'm not a Pats fan. Couldn't have cared less who won that game. But I will be rooting hard for the Steelers next week.

Did you see all the post game antics?

I don't know that it is necessary for losers to shake hands in order to be called "good sports". But here are some behaviors that don't qualify.

• Picking a fight with the winner
  
• Trashing their equipment or facility.
  
• Thowing at batters when the loss becomes evident
  
• Disparaging the winner's character, social or financial circumstances, looks or parentage.
  
• Accusing the winners or umpires of cheating

I think it is pretty important that teams don't engage in these behaviors, even though they "don't like losing".

Being a good sport lies somewhere between these egregious examples and offering to buy the winners ice cream.

Put simply, a good sport is respectful of the winning team (and when the shoe is on the other foot, respectful of the losing team.) Just like doffing your hat at a funeral, if the social norms say that not shaking hands is disrespectful, then shake hands.

Locally, high school players line past each other, tapping hands. It's not always polite, but that's not obvious to the spectators.

Remember. athletic competition was invented as a means of settling disputes without bloodshed.

This is why the fans root in favor of their representative heroes so strongly.

Shaking hands at the end of the game is a sign that peace wil once again be the order of the day.

Shaking hands was a show that no weapon is being weilded against the opposition.

quote:

Originally posted by Quincy:
Remember. athletic competition was invented as a means of settling disputes without bloodshed.

This is why the fans root in favor of their representative heroes so strongly.

Shaking hands at the end of the game is a sign that peace will once again be the order of the day.

Shaking hands was a show that no weapon is being weilded against the opposition.

44

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I would not have wanted to shake hands with the Jets today. What a classless bunch. Starting with the head coach.

P.S. I'm not a Pats fan. Couldn't have cared less who won that game. But I will be rooting hard for the Steelers next week.

Did you see all the post game antics?

I'm not sure? I saw the last Jets touchdown. And I saw a few minutes right after the final horn where several Jets players ran around the field like they were 8 year old children pretending to be airplanes. And some goof doing a Mitch Gaylord imitation.

Was there more or was that enough? It was for me.

If you go through life basing happiness on wins/losses then the value of the journey is wasted.

I think it is very important to demonstrate civility!

Speaking of sportsmanship.

You know what I hate? The teams that stand in the dugout and razz/ yell / chant obnoxious things at 90 decibels throughout the entire game at the opposing pitcher. It is so low class. I do not understand why coaches encourage it or why tournaments allow it. What are they teaching the boys?

I also can't stand the air horns and cow bells in the stands but at least those are "supportive" sounds.

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:

quote:

Originally posted by biggerpapi:
I would not have wanted to shake hands with the Jets today. What a classless bunch. Starting with the head coach.

P.S. I'm not a Pats fan. Couldn't have cared less who won that game. But I will be rooting hard for the Steelers next week.

Did you see all the post game antics?

I'm not sure? I saw the last Jets touchdown. And I saw a few minutes right after the final horn where several Jets players ran around the field like they were 8 year old children pretending to be airplanes. And some goof doing a Mitch Gaylord imitation.

Was there more or was that enough? It was for me.

Patriots WR Deion Branch answers the question as to whether you shake your opponents hand or not after you lose a game:

”I’m a champion. I’m always congratulating guys upon victory,” Branch said. ”They beat us today. They beat us when it mattered. The ones with class I shook their hands. The other ones, I didn’t. They don’t deserve, nor my teammates, (deserve) congratulations. For them to act like that. You can tell they’re not used to being in this position. For some of those guys to act that way . . . but we don’t have any excuses, though. They beat us.”

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
I think it is very important to demonstrate civility!

Speaking of sportsmanship.

You know what I hate? The teams that stand in the dugout and razz/ yell / chant obnoxious things at 90 decibels throughout the entire game at the opposing pitcher. It is so low class. I do not understand why coaches encourage it or why tournaments allow it. What are they teaching the boys?

I also can't stand the air horns and cow bells in the stands but at least those are "supportive" sounds.

I agree. Players should not be razzing the opposing pitcher or opposing team, that is the job of the fans in the stands.

In reality, the only thing low class in sports is acting outside of the rules.

Every coach and athlete that is sent out wearing the school or club colors is representing the best that that school or club has. Their role is be victorius bringing honor and respect to those whom they represent.

The better coaches are familiar with 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu written around 400 BC in China.

quote:

Originally posted by Quincy:

quote:

Originally posted by BaseballmomandCEP:
I think it is very important to demonstrate civility!

Speaking of sportsmanship.

You know what I hate? The teams that stand in the dugout and razz/ yell / chant obnoxious things at 90 decibels throughout the entire game at the opposing pitcher. It is so low class. I do not understand why coaches encourage it or why tournaments allow it. What are they teaching the boys?

I also can't stand the air horns and cow bells in the stands but at least those are "supportive" sounds.

I agree. Players should not be razzing the opposing pitcher or opposing team, that is the job of the fans in the stands.

In reality, the only thing low class in sports is acting outside of the rules.

Every coach and athlete that is sent out wearing the school or club colors is representing the best that that school or club has. Their role is be victorius bringing honor and respect to those whom they represent.

The better coaches are familiar with 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu written around 400 BC in China.

In HS it's not the job of the fans to razz the opposing pitcher or opposing team and is most often prohibited by the game and school officials. The spectator's shouldn't really being saying anything to the opposing players. They can cheer for their team and specific players and even boo umpire's calls. And there will always be the obnoxious fan on the visiting team but you get nothing but trouble if you say things directly back at them. Just hoot and hollar louder for your boys.

I'll tell ya what does bugs me at a game. The chowderhead that is sitting in front of you having a dang 45 minute conversation on the cell phone about every bit of nonsense in their lives that I don't care or want to know about but have no choice. Now my wife on the other hand has no problem telling them what they can do with their phone!