I watched a highschool girls' basketball game today, Ridley vs some random other Ontario team in the provincial semis. Actually, I watched two already, because I was "hosting" (ie sitting on the bench and being the team's bitch) a team over the provs, which was.... okay-ish I guess. Okay, either way, the basketball was fun, so yeah.
What really got me thinking though, was the fact that everyone unquestioningly accepts certain things in sports, and you'd guess that that's mostly because of the fact that these sports, having been developed over hundreds if not thousands of years already, you'd think that humanity has pretty much mastered the optimal basic strategy. But what I don't understand is why for example when the one team is running back after they just lost the ball at one end of the court, they won't/can't make an attempt at the opponents just the second before theuy get secure and are most vulnerable. I saw one girl literally almost drop it as she was passing it to her teammate standing right next to her, and one of the Ridley girls had just ran right past. I mean, I know I'm probably wrong, but in that case I'd really appreciate someone explaining the whole concept to me.
Then I got a little sidetracked because I realized there was an insane smell of weed coming of the girl standing in front of me, who also happened to be an HP rower and actually as I found out an all-round jock person. the hell!? Don't these guys realize that if they ever want to get anywhere in sports, they shouldn't actually be doing drugs? Seriously though, if you get caught... I'm seriously considering tripping her up. Just out of principle and because I'm up to my neck in freaking drugs in this place! heh, that's for another time...
Aaaand the final thing, and this is what actually bugs me the most because it's a really serious problem. In most sports, not just basketball. And it's the massive problem of the audience cheering and clapping when someone from the other team does something wrong, or commits a foul or whatever. Every single damn time the other team committed a foul or missed the hoop and the ball went out, the Ridley crowd would stand up and cheer. It happened the other way around too, in actually every game I watched. And the thing is, people who are doing it probably don't even realize what they're doing or what the implications are, or why and whether it's wrong. And it absolutely kills me! I absolutely point-blank refuse to clap or cheer just because we got the ball due to a foul. No.
Also, there's this whole strategy of intentional fouls for various reasons, and also the fact that the coaches tell their players to do unethical things that are within the rules! Perfect example: field hockey, which many of my SA friends play. When you're in the opponent's D and you can't get clear, you are told to go for the foot so you can get a short corner. My coach actually said "I don't care if it's unethical, you do it!". And the crowd claps and cheers along. Whoopee for upholding the values and morality of sports, because you're just helping them degenerate into something based purely on WAAC and getting huge.
Most other sports suffer victim to this, and it's honestly just atrocious. I'll tell you one sport that definitely doesn't, and that's fencing. Who knows why? Because you are physically carded for unsportsmanlike behavior, whether you're competing or spectating or whatever. And it's a black card too, which, for you non-fencers out there, means you have to leave the venue and forfeit the competition. Even if you have just won the world final.
And that actually happened the one time. Two Germans were facing each other in the Men's Foil World Final, 14-14. A knew B didn't have a plastron (a half-jacket worn for extra protection, mandatory in international events) on, so he asked the referee to check for it (which is within the rules). Obviously, he didn't have it, so the ref gave B a red card (meaning A won), but then turned right around and gave A a black card for unsportsmanlike behavior. Bam! I repeat, WORLD. FINAL. Come on!
Why don't people play like gentlemen anymore? Check this out. It's a video our Health for Life teacher showed us about "ethical coaching". I'm not even gonna explain it; watch it. And it's the coach yelling "go!" from the sidelines, obviously his plan all along. I have to agree with Mr Whitty's statement: "If I was the coach of the other team, I'd just leave the game right there and then". It's middle school and you're already teaching these kids how to be gamesmen. Good luck burning in hell, buddy.
That's the worst thing. I mean, if you're Emil Zatopeck (who incidentally broke the previous world marathon record by 12 minutes at the Olympics one time, even after "slowing down" so he could tune the other runners) then whatever, your problem. But if it's generally accepted by society then it's a freaking GIANT ISSUE! Hello, president of ethics, we have a case for you!
That's why there's nothing more satisfying for the competitive spirit than a good game of Warhammer. Yep, you heard right! Because this game is based more on chance than conventional sports, plus the fact that it's based around the idea of badass plastic soldiers blowing ^kraaaw!^ up, it gets intense. If your opponent forgets a rule, you point it out. If your opponent forgets to fire his squad, you point it out. If your opponent is stuck for strategy (and it's not a tourney game. or even if it is, but only if you're blatantly kicking plastic butt), then give him an honest suggestion of what you would do in that situation. And when it all comes down to the final dice roll, both (or all) players are there waiting and watching with the same engagement. I do it all the time, because I've done the preparation and my army lists are superior (ie I've trained my team harder/better/faster/stronger), my tactics during the game are unquestionable (ie I lead my team well during the game) and I don't really care that much about winning, more about having a good game. If you go have a bad Warhammer match, winning isn't enough of a consolation. I wish people would just apply that to real life sports more. Let's be honest, plastic spacemen can't really express that same level of emotion and intensity that just makes a game.
And have the players internalized it? Same as the audience: of course they have.
So what if I had the same fun in the same sportsmanly manner? Someone should honestly tell these coaches, players, and spectators why sportsmanship is important, why gamesmanship is bad, and why it involves more than shaking hands afterwards to have a good game. Once that's done, I might consider moving into mainstream sports again.
rant over............... announcements for today: Duncan is a tank. As usual. And I challenge him to a 40k battle as soon as I get back.
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