There are several phrases associated with sports that just bug the crap out of me; Performance Enhancing Drugs, 5 tool players, meeting his potential, YANKEES WIN! But the phrases I've heard most over the past few days are "showing up the pitcher," and "act like you've been there." For those who don't know what I'm talking about, these are phrases that are uttered when a player of just about any sport, scores something and then openly demonstrates his emotions. Some players are way more demonstrative than others, but basically that is what it is, displaying emotion. The two most recent examples are Bryce Harper of the Hagerstown Suns (Washington Nats Single A team) and David Ortiz showing up pitchers after hitting homers this past week. Now I understand that Bryce Harper (19 year old know nothing first year pro in the minors) and David "Big Papi" Ortiz (14 year, 10 time all-star, ALCS MVP, 2 time World Series Champ, pro) don't even compare on a respect level, but they do on a very basic level; THEY PLAY A GAME FOR A LIVING! I don't understand for the life of me what baseball people are thinking. On one hand they are talking about a rule change for plays at the plate so there precious catchers don't get hurt, but then they whine when players start having fun and celebrating a homer. Now this is not just a baseball problem (this happens in all of the 3 major sports, but I will get to the others in a bit), but those are the examples that are currently pissing me off. Let's start with the "Big Papi" taunt from last nights Yanks-Sox game. There is history there, it was a big game, and it's "Papi," that's his way. He hit a monstrous homer and flicked his bat away in a showboaty way, so what? Look baseball, more than any other sport, has a self governing way about it. A batter shows up a pitcher, he gets plunked next time around, that's the way right? But no, we have to here for 3 days "it's disgraceful, act like you;ve been there, it's bush league." No it's not bush league, THEY PLAY A GAME AND MAKE MILLIONS AT IT, lighten up! Act like you been there? Who's been there more than "Papi?" What, because Derek Jeter doesn't flip his bat away, or stare at a homer, nobody else can? Mike Schmidt actually weighed in on the Bryce Harper incident by saying " if you’re going to hit a lot of ’em, you’d better learn not to show up the pitcher.” He went on to say “The game [will] figure out a way to police this young man, if his manager won’t.” Exactly, and this is a Hall of Famer and one of the toughest SOB's in the history of the sport. It's a give and take game. Now other sports frustrate me even more because in the NFL they have penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebration. WTF? So let me get this straight, I'm a 6'0", 200 pound running back who avoided being killed by a 350 pound Defensive Lineman and a super quick Safety whose job it is to decapitate guys running with the ball and scored a Touchdown, I'm not allowed to get on my knees and thank the good lord, Jesus Christ for helping me survive that? And then, of course do a reenactment of a grenade going off with my teammates? That's just ridiculous. I love my sports (obviously), but I hate when they take themselves to seriously. Who in the world didn't love when Terrel Owens used to pull his post TD antics. That sharpie bit was a classic and so was the popcorn thing he did. If you are reading this, and you're disagreeing with me then you have a stick in your ass, and you don't deserve to watch these GAMES on TV. Because here's the deal.....THEY'RE GAMES! It's not Congress, or war, it's f#$king games. If you can't have fun and express yourself during a game, where can you? You can't spike a stapler at work when a killer sale goes through right? You can't run up and down the halls and taunt other teachers if one of your students does very well on a test right? I think it's frowned upon. And definitely don't toss extra bricks into a crowd of people after you complete a difficult construction job, someone might get hurt. Football, baseball and basketball are games, and that's how they should be treated in regards to celebrations. And look, these athletes are grown men in these cases, and they can take care of themselves. Can we stop coddling these entertainers, because that's what they are....entertainers. Why scoff, and throw a fit every time they entertain. I watched all the ESPN debate shows today (I have no life) and roughly 40% of the topics were revolving around the the "Big Papi" and the Bryce Harper celebrations, and the majority of the sentiment was anti-taunting; big shock. It's stunning to me that these sports (everyone of them) main goal is to entertain as many people as humanly possible, and they shun something that will put fannies in the seats. Also, the MLB and the NBA have so many massive problems, that taunting or "showing up" the other team should be number 1028 on there list of 1030 things to fix. I wish these mealy mouthed analysts and radio personalities, and these crybaby fans who would cheer there own guy if he did the same exact thing (stop it you know it's true), would just stop taking this crap so seriously. IT'S A GAME!So there are some times where the taunting is an issue, but day to day, quit your bitching it's just a game. So in closing let T.O. shake his pom-poms when he scores. Let Bryce Harper blow his kisses at the pitcher after he jacks one. Let "Big Papi" flick his bat with attitude when he hits a steroid induce 400 footer, because what really needs to be remembered is it is a game, and ultimately it's entertainment. And what's more entertaining, than some overhyped douche, showing you how hyped he is. I will tell you this, it may not be classy, but damn it's entertaining.
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