Monday, October 16, 2006
One Day?
Yahoo News: It seems Miami and Florida International football students decided to appear like real thugs this weekend. I saw some of the "highlights," if you want to call them that, of the fight on the news. This wasn't a matter of a couple of guys throwing some punches after a bad hit - it was an out and out brawl that seemed to include most of both teams' players along with idiots who were on the bench and not even playing.
I watched "players," and I use that term ever so loosely, kicking, stomping, swinging helmets and the news even mentioned some guy swinging his crutches at other players. To me this is just a reflection of the growing thuggery that is becoming more and more a part of sports - both pro and amateur. There should be no place for this stuff in today's sports. This weekend I watched a player who's team was 30 points down, celebrating when he made a tackle! That's what you're supposed to do. Nowadays a player makes 5 yards and he has to celebrate like he just won the Super Bowl singlehanded. Last month a local 12 years old flag football team was called at the half because of bad behavior!
I'll have to admit, that the majority of pro-football players act quite well on the field. Let's face it, getting mashed into the ground by a 350 pound lineman every other play would frazzle anyone's nerves. But for the most part, the pros just don't let that stuff go by. One player last week was suspended for several games because of his disgraceful violent behavior - to the tune of $190,000 of missed paychecks. But you see hockey idiots fighting every game - and being encouraged to do so. What makes a hockey game anymore acceptable for brawling than any other sport?
For my final word on this Florida fiasco, is that I find a one game suspension to be nowhere near what those thugs in uniform should be given. Multiple games, if not the remainder of the season would make a much better point.
