LOL @ the NFL: Cracking Down on Player Celebrations

[sb1]

The attitude is what makes this sport great. Sack dances, celebrations, the whole works. I have no problem with taunting either.

I can kinda see the point in the NCAA but there should be no such thing as "excessive celebration" in the NFL unless it causes a long delay of game or something like throwing a football at a player.

No Fun League indeed.

 

[fnordcircle]

Stupid **** like this will go away in time because Gen X will be moving into senior leadership positions and Gen X is known to be the pragmatic generation, shedding the needless 'principles' that previous generations cling to as though principle, in and of itself, should be a deciding factor.

The reality is that fans love endzone celebrations, period. Fans aren't always expert on what is good for the game but that is confined to mechanics, gameplay rules, etc.

But fans are absolutely the experts on what we should be seeing in all other areas of the sport and the sooner we see the return of endzone celebrations (the more elaborate the better) the better.

 

[reflexblue]

absulutely absured, soon they'll make it like t-ball, no one loses every games a tie. i'm really getting sick of godell.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sorry for the disgustingly big pic. I just thought that was too good not to post.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Total crap.........

 

[SHOWTIME15]

victor cruz's dance is idiotic, i hope they at least get rid of that.

 

[Pewsterbaby]

If Cruz's dance is still legal then Gronk should break out a tango with Brady after every touchdown in protest.

Cruz does salsa cuz he's Latino. If you want Gronk to follow suit, then it'd be Polka. Oh, the horror. (not that there's much music or dancing in Poland. Decades of Soviet rule after The War snuffed out freedom of expression. That's why Poles are stiff & mechanical by nature, hence the Gronk spike.)

How'd an NFL endzone celebration thread turn into a lesson in Eastern European Sociology? Oh, just ignore me. Cue the Mike Meyers' Sprockets SNL skit. That's how Eastern Europeans would endzone dance.

 

[situational_awareness]

The sport that really should be cleaning up its act is the MLB. I don't know why they allow players and managers to get in the face of umpires and do almost anything on the field without fines and suspensions if a call doesn't go their way. Even if they get ejected, they sometimes come back on the field and go over the top in their displays of insubordination.

NFL is ridiculous for the rule changes. The fans aren't even calling for it. People like the celebrations for the most part. Even the idiotic/elaborate ones are good because if it's a guy you like, it's hilarious. If it's a guy you don't like, it makes them more of a villain for you to root against. It's good theater and harmless. How many people were jumping off their sofas laughing when T.O. got knocked down for celebrating on the other team's logo at mid-field? That was better than the celebration... and I like T.O, but it was still funny as hell to me.

 

[Tunescribe]

The reality is that fans love endzone celebrations, period. and the sooner we see the return of endzone celebrations (the more elaborate the better) the better.

Here are two main reasons I don't "love" end zone celebrations:

* I hate them when the other team has scored; it's like rubbing the fans' face in it.
* The individual who does the celebrating isn't necessarily responsible for why his team scored to begin with. (It's a TEAM game.) This is why most end zone celebrations are stupidly self-indulgent.

Maybe they should organize entire offenses into a choreographed chorus line to perform a celebratory routine whenever a touchdown is scored. Call me old-school if you want. To me, the classiest example was set by Barry Sanders, who simply handed the ball to the ref whenever he crossed the goal line. Let fans do the celebrating.

 

[Kontradiction]

Here are two main reasons I don't "love" end zone celebrations:

* I hate them when the other team has scored; it's like rubbing the fans' face in it.
* The individual who does the celebrating isn't necessarily responsible for why his team scored to begin with. (It's a TEAM game.) This is why most end zone celebrations are stupidly self-indulgent.

Maybe they should organize entire offenses into a choreographed chorus line to perform a celebratory routine whenever a touchdown is scored. Call me old-school if you want. To me, the classiest example was set by Barry Sanders, who simply handed the ball to the ref whenever he crossed the goal line. Let fans do the celebrating.

That thing you mentioned about "shoving the fans'" nose in it is simply competitive spirit. If you have a problem with end zone celebrations because the player that scored is shoving their nose in it, then you must have a real problem with Brady dropping back to pass when the Pats are up 41-14 late in the 4th quarter. Taking your definition of a touchdown celebration, both acts are the same. If you don't like it, stop it from happening.

 

[fnordcircle]

Call me old-school if you want. To me, the classiest example was set by Barry Sanders, who simply handed the ball to the ref whenever he crossed the goal line. Let fans do the celebrating.

It's football. What does class have to do with it?

Are you also upset with the stadium playing celebration music? The revolutionary guard shooting off their muskets must really offend you on behalf of fans of the other team.

Honestly if you can't take having your nose rubbed in it when the other team scores you're probably taking this spectator sport too seriously.

 

[Tunescribe]

That thing you mentioned about "shoving the fans'" nose in it is simply competitive spirit.

No, it's not. It is the demonstrative version of saying, "In your face!" That's not sportsmanship.

If you have a problem with end zone celebrations because the player that scored is shoving their nose in it, then you must have a real problem with Brady dropping back to pass when the Pats are up 41-14 late in the 4th quarter. Taking your definition of a touchdown celebration, both acts are the same.

That's an awful analogy. Apples and oranges. You're comparing an aspect of team play to personal demonstration after the whistle.

I wouldn't expect you to agree with my perspective on this anyway, Kontra. You're of the video-game generation and I'm older/old-school.

It's football. What does class have to do with it?

You lost me after this sentence.

 

[situational_awareness]

No, it's not. It is the demonstrative version of saying, "In your face!" That's not sportsmanship.

That's an awful analogy. Apples and oranges. You're comparing an aspect of team play to personal demonstration after the whistle.

I wouldn't expect you to agree with my perspective on this anyway, Kontra. You're of the video-game generation and I'm older/old-school.

I don't know... I kind of like the "in your face" part of sports. It's part of the psychological operations aspect of it. The ONE time I thought it was over the line and ridiculous was when the entire Georgia team stormed the end zone after a TD against my Gators. But that's college and celebrations by even one player are prohibited. That's what bothered me... it was such a blatant disregard for the rules of college and clearly endorsed by the coach.

NBA is the best, though. I love the bench's reaction to a dunk in someone's face, ankle breaking crossover, or blocked shot. Their reactions are sometimes better than the play that happened.

 

[Kontradiction]

No, it's not. It is the demonstrative version of saying, "In your face!" That's not sportsmanship.

I didn't say it was sportsmanship. I said that it was competitive spirit. Celebrating (I.E. - spiking the ball, dancing, etc.) after doing something good for your team in the face of the other team is what happens when the competition is at a high level. It's similar to basketball players screaming after a huge shot or a big dunk, baseball players throwing their helmet off with their arms out after they hit a walk off, and hockey players skating around and fist pumping after a big goal. That's the spirit of competition. An issue with competitive nature usually indicates that one either a) didn't play a competitive sport, or b) played one, but didn't play it for very long.

That's an awful analogy. Apples and oranges. You're comparing an aspect of team play to personal demonstration after the whistle.

That's a cop out, and you know it. You're trying to tell me that celebrating after a touchdown is somehow a worse slight to the fans or more demoralizing to the other team than continuing to score, particularly through the air, when the other team is obviously beaten? It's not an apples to oranges comparison at all in spite of how badly you wish it would be. Both have the same concept: if you don't like it, stop it.

I wouldn't expect you to agree with my perspective on this anyway, Kontra. You're of the video-game generation and I'm older/old-school.

For one, our generations or difference in age have absolutely nothing to do with it. For another, I know plenty of the older school generation, including my father, that love end zone celebrations. I'm fairly certain that fnord is older than 27 (my age) and he agrees with me.

 

[Tunescribe]

I didn't say it was sportsmanship. I said that it was competitive spirit. Celebrating (I.E. - spiking the ball, dancing, etc.) after doing something good for your team in the face of the other team is what happens when the competition is at a high level. It's similar to basketball players screaming after a huge shot or a big dunk, baseball players throwing their helmet off with their arms out after they hit a walk off, and hockey players skating around and fist pumping after a big goal. That's the spirit of competition. An issue with competitive nature usually indicates that one either a) didn't play a competitive sport, or b) played one, but didn't play it for very long.

Good lord. You need primers on "competitive nature" vs. sportsmanship and team concept vs. personal self-glorification. I don't know where to begin. Before you attempt to lecture me otherwise: I competed at the collegiate Div. 1AA level in track and have a college minor in coaching; six times letterman in high school. I have no issue with "competitive nature," but how you're attempting to define it is a bit strange.

That's a cop out, and you know it.

You're trying to tell me that celebrating after a touchdown is somehow a worse slight to the fans or more demoralizing to the other team than continuing to score, particularly through the air, when the other team is obviously beaten? It's not an apples to oranges comparison at all in spite of how badly you wish it would be.

I'll repeat what I said earlier: apples and oranges. One is team play, the other is individual demonstration after the whistle.

Both have the same concept: if you don't like it, stop it.

Unfortunately, I'm just sitting in the stands and can't be on the field in uniform and pads.

For one, our generations or difference in age have absolutely nothing to do with it. For another, I know plenty of the older school generation, including my father, that love end zone celebrations. I'm fairly certain that fnord is older than 27 (my age) and he agrees with me.

Let me be clear: I don't advocate doing away with end zone celebrations. For example, if Ridley scores and Brady plus a lineman or two run up and chest-bump him and they all high-five each other, etc., that's great. What never makes sense to me is what Ahern did or Victor Cruz's stupid samba dance, etc. They don't score in a vacuum. Guys who score touchdowns and go overboard shaking their butt around and gesture at the crowd are making it all about themselves, which is contrary to the essence of football.

 

[fnordcircle]

You lost me after this sentence.

That's fine, I'm a patient dude and I'm sure you're not just confusing glibness with having made a point.

You consider endzone celebrations 'unclassy'. I think talking about class in the NFL is a giant arbitrary circlejerk but we'll leave that for another time.

Do you find stadium celebrations unclassy as well? When Rock N' Roll Part 2 kicked on (before we found out he diddled boys) did you turn up your nose in disgust at all the unclassiness of daring to play music in celebration of a TD?

Are you miffed that the Patriots dare have the revolutionary guard shoot their muskets in celebration of a touch down?

Or have you arbitrarily (there's that word again) decided that only the players doing a TD celebration is rude?

 

[Dagg]

I think this is awful as a kid growing up in the 80s playing football on the playground everyday the TD celebration was part of the fun. Busting out the Icky shuffle or the Whiteshoes Johnson after a TD was just fun as hell and everybody got a kick out of it from both sides.

I did learn my lesson scoring my first TD in freshman football and trying these antics and getting a 15 yarder but it was worth it.

I do regret not doing this at least once in college as well.

 

[Tunescribe]

That's fine, I'm a patient dude and I'm sure you're not just confusing glibness with having made a point.

You consider endzone celebrations 'unclassy'. I think talking about class in the NFL is a giant arbitrary circlejerk but we'll leave that for another time.

Do you find stadium celebrations unclassy as well? When Rock N' Roll Part 2 kicked on (before we found out he diddled boys) did you turn up your nose in disgust at all the unclassiness of daring to play music in celebration of a TD?

Are you miffed that the Patriots dare have the revolutionary guard shoot their muskets in celebration of a touch down?

Or have you arbitrarily (there's that word again) decided that only the players doing a TD celebration is rude?

Group celebrations are great. Repeating from my post above: I don't advocate doing away with end zone celebrations. For example, if Ridley scores and Brady plus a lineman or two run up and chest-bump him and they all high-five each other, etc., that's great. What never makes sense to me is what Ahern did or Victor Cruz's stupid samba dance, etc. They don't score in a vacuum. Guys who score touchdowns and go overboard shaking their butt around and gesture at the crowd are making it all about themselves, which is contrary to the essence of football.

 

[JMC00]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but as long as he doesn't do it in front of player, which BTW he's been flagged for before or after a play that isn't a TD then he can still do it.

The only thing I saw that the officials are emphasizing at training camp is not spinning the ball after a play.

 

[Kontradiction]

Good lord. You need primers on "competitive nature" vs. sportsmanship and team concept vs. personal self-glorification. I don't know where to begin. Before you attempt to lecture me otherwise: I competed at the collegiate Div. 1AA level in track and have a college minor in coaching; six times letterman in high school. I have no issue with "competitive nature," but how you're attempting to define it is a bit strange.

I don't need primers on it at all. I just gave you numerous examples from three different popular American sports. Athletes celebrate big shots, touchdowns, goals, etc. because they are so competitive. If there wasn't competition, there would be no sort of excessive celebration after something like that happens. It would be practice, in this case. I can't remember one instance in all my years playing organized football, basketball, or baseball where any of those celebrations occurred in a practice setting. I can, however, remember plenty of them when the game was tight and the competition from the other team was stiff.

And, again, I said nothing of sportsmanship in my OP.

I'll repeat what I said earlier: apples and oranges. One is team play, the other is individual demonstration after the whistle.

You were moving the goalposts on top of copping out in your last post, and you continue to do it here. You said that one of your main issues with end zone celebrations was that it "rubs the fans' nose in it". Please explain to me how the Patriots and Brady are not doing just that when they're dropping back to pass up multiple touchdowns late in the 4th.

Unfortunately, I'm just sitting in the stands and can't be on the field in uniform and pads.

Nice. But I wasn't specifically referring to you or any fan in particular. More like if fans do not like end zone celebrations, or watching their team get humiliated in a blow out, they should hope that their teams can stop it.

Let me be clear: I don't advocate doing away with end zone celebrations. For example, if Ridley scores and Brady plus a lineman or two run up and chest-bump him and they all high-five each other, etc., that's great. What never makes sense to me is what Ahern did or Victor Cruz's stupid samba dance, etc. They don't score in a vacuum. Guys who score touchdowns and go overboard shaking their butt around and gesture at the crowd are making it all about themselves, which is contrary to the essence of football.

If it was "all about themselves", don't you think there would be numerous instances of the celebrating player's teammates taking issue with it, either on the field or publicly, by now? I do. But, most of the time when I saw Cruz do the salsa or Hernandez make it rain, I also saw their teammates come up to celebrate with them afterward. Just because one does a touchdown dance or an end zone celebration does not mean that they don't realize that it's a team sport.