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High School Track Team Disqualified When Runner Gestures Thanks to God

Paschendale said:
This is just like that wrestler who held up the match to pray and then complained about being disqualified. Rules are rules, and you don't get a special exception because you broke them with religious intent. Now, I think raising your arm or cheering or something like that does not qualify as "excessive" celebration, but that's not what the thread is about. It's about pretending that a similar gesture of non-religious intent wouldn't have qualified while this did. And that is nonsense.
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I actually agree with you for once. I don't think this DQ had anything to do with religion. It's just the judges being overly obsessed with handing out excessive celebration penalties, which make sports more boring for everyone.

I don't care if you're Tebowing or doing the Icky Shuffle, celebration is an act of individual expression and, as a fan, I like seeing that stuff because it's entertaining.
 
mike2810 said:
No, at least for me its not about that. Its about what a stupid rule.

There was no reported taunting. So what is wrong in celebrating a little ones success or accomplishments? Some boards are taking things to extreme.

Are you one who thinks winning/success should not be celebrated?
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This wasn't about suppressing success, it's about suppressing taunting and teaching good sportsmanship. This rule removes the subjectivity aspect, and sets a firm black and white rule. There is no indication of taunting here, but what about all the times there was taunting? Why should the official be forced to subjectively decide whether a team can advance to state or not?

It's not a stupid rule, it's a rule which has come about because of a very real lack of sportsmanship in sports. Contrary to popular opinion, sports are not about winning, but in this "win at all costs" culture we now have, we seen taunting on a regular basis. I have no problem with a rule which cracks down on unsportsmanship like behavior.
 
Slyfox696 said:
This wasn't about suppressing success, it's about suppressing taunting and teaching good sportsmanship. This rule removes the subjectivity aspect, and sets a firm black and white rule. There is no indication of taunting here, but what about all the times there was taunting? Why should the official be forced to subjectively decide whether a team can advance to state or not?

It's not a stupid rule, it's a rule which has come about because of a very real lack of sportsmanship in sports. Contrary to popular opinion, sports are not about winning, but in this "win at all costs" culture we now have, we seen taunting on a regular basis. I have no problem with a rule which cracks down on unsportsmanship like behavior.
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This is exactly the kind of racist attitude that is killing sports.

You're happy to have black athletes on your team if they help your team win, but god forbid you should get a little bit of black culture in your living room.

Sports are about having fun. Celebrating is fun. Spare me your whitewashed ideals of "sportsmanship."
 
Raising an arm is "excessive celebration"??


I can only shake my head.
 
Peter Grimm said:
This is exactly the kind of racist attitude that is killing sports.

You're happy to have black athletes on your team if they help your team win, but god forbid you should get a little bit of black culture in your living room.

Sports are about having fun. Celebrating is fun. Spare me your whitewashed ideals of "sportsmanship."
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Is it your opinion the only people who celebrate in an unsportsmanlike attitude are black people? And you're calling me the racist?

I honestly could not care less what race is doing the taunting, it completely goes against what sports are supposed to be.
 
Slyfox696 said:
Is it your opinion the only people who celebrate in an unsportsmanlike attitude are black people? And you're calling me the racist?

I honestly could not care less what race is doing the taunting, it completely goes against what sports are supposed to be.
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No but dancing and celebrating are a part of black sports culture, and not a part of the white sports culture embodied by Joe Paterno or Mike Ditka.

Go to any high school football game in a black neighborhood and you will see what I'm saying.

These "sportsmanship" penalties are nothing but cultural whitewashing. YOU think sports should be one way (no dancing, pointing, etc) and so you put that in the rules. I say that's a garbage. There's nothing wrong with a little celebration and having fun.

It doesn't harm anyone. The only reason it's banned is because it makes white america uncomfortable.
 
Peter Grimm said:
No but dancing and celebrating are a part of black sports culture, and not a part of the white sports culture embodied by Joe Paterno or Mike Ditka.
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I literally had to do a double take.

So...dancing and celebrating is black sports culture and allowing little children to be molested is white sports culture. Got it.

Go to any high school football game in a black neighborhood and you will see what I'm saying.
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I honestly don't know what to say to this, except that I truly hope you're merely pulling my chain right now.

These "sportsmanship" penalties are nothing but cultural whitewashing. YOU think sports should be one way (no dancing, pointing, etc) and so you put that in the rules. I say that's a garbage. There's nothing wrong with a little celebration and having fun.
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Celebration is not being restricted, taunting others is being restricted.

It doesn't harm anyone. The only reason it's banned is because it makes white america uncomfortable.
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Or because taunting completely violates the idea of sportsmanship. Either way. Though probably much more my way.
 
Slyfox696 said:
I literally had to do a double take.

So...dancing and celebrating is black sports culture and allowing little children to be molested is white sports culture. Got it.

I honestly don't know what to say to this, except that I truly hope you're merely pulling my chain right now.

Celebration is not being restricted, taunting others is being restricted.

Or because taunting completely violates the idea of sportsmanship. Either way. Though probably much more my way.
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You're clearly so whitewashed you don't even realize that there are differences in black and white culture.

Would you make the New Zealand rugby team stop doing the hakka dance before every game? No, because it's part of their culture. Why is it that we can respect their culture, but not the culture of black athletes in the United States?

Nobody is harmed by doing a dance or pointing a finger.

White people watch WWE wrestling, right? All they do is taunt and celebrate. It's good entertainment. But when a black athlete does it in a football game, oh we can't have that.

And yes, Joe Paterno is the quintessential figurehead of white sports. There is no flash, no swagger with his teams. All the rot was on the inside.


 
Slyfox696 said:
This wasn't about suppressing success, it's about suppressing taunting and teaching good sportsmanship. This rule removes the subjectivity aspect, and sets a firm black and white rule. There is no indication of taunting here, but what about all the times there was taunting? Why should the official be forced to subjectively decide whether a team can advance to state or not?

It's not a stupid rule, it's a rule which has come about because of a very real lack of sportsmanship in sports. Contrary to popular opinion, sports are not about winning, but in this "win at all costs" culture we now have, we seen taunting on a regular basis. I have no problem with a rule which cracks down on unsportsmanship like behavior.
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we will have to agree to disagree. Your comment about "real lack of sportsmanship in sports", when occurs shows a larger underlying problem. It starts with the parents.

I still say, let the kids enjoy and celebrate in sports. They can be shown/taught how to do it without taunting.
Amazing my generation for the most part did just fine without all these rules.
 
zimmer said:
1. How do they know it was God?
2. Did they ask him?
3. And what does it matter if he had?

Whoever was involved with the DQ should be DQ'd from officiating sport events.

The DQ is 100% ridiculous.
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reminds me of the wrestling thread where questions of rule adherence were ignored in the name of pushing some agenda about repressing religion. Unless you can show that excessive celebrations were allowed in other context, not involving religious celebration, the later accusation is without merit.
 
Excessive celebratory acts? So you just tuck in your tail, lower your head, and pretend you didn't accomplish anything?
 
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zimmer said:
Having played a ton of sports at a pretty high level (and one professionally)... raising your arm(s) in victory is a reflex action.
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right, and different leagues and organizations have different rules, that are applied based on best judgement by individuals.

just the nature of sports officiating.
 
rocket88 said:
God hates everybody who runs a little bit slower. Didn't you know that? :lol:

I have a feeling that this wouldn't be appearing on breitbart.com if the kid said he was thanking Allah.
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I'm not sure citing hurt feelings over a raised arm really helps your position. As a basis for a rule, it's rather silly, even at the grade school level
 
Slyfox696 said:
This wasn't about suppressing success, it's about suppressing taunting and teaching good sportsmanship. This rule removes the subjectivity aspect, and sets a firm black and white rule.
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there is always going to be subjectivity in sports officiating.
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
right, and different leagues and organizations have different rules, that are applied based on best judgement by individuals.

just the nature of sports officiating.
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Well... their judgement sucks.
 
I hope the officials left a round in the starting gun to shoot themselves with after making that call.
 
zimmer said:
Well... their judgement sucks.
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I agree the general idea seems rather stupid, and a byproduct of "everyone is a winner" mentality. It's like we want to ingrain in people there is something wrong with success
 
Peter Grimm said:
You're clearly so whitewashed you don't even realize that there are differences in black and white culture.
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Or I'm not of the racist opinion that only black people excessively taunt their opposition.

Nobody is harmed by doing a dance or pointing a finger.
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Agreed, but that's not why raising an arm is prohibited. It's prohibited to prevent taunting, which can cause harm.

White people watch WWE wrestling, right? All they do is taunt and celebrate. It's good entertainment. But when a black athlete does it in a football game, oh we can't have that.
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So you're comparing legitimate athletic competition to WWE wrestling? As someone who watches wrestling myself, I find your example to be outrageous.

And yes, Joe Paterno is the quintessential figurehead of white sports.
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I see you totally did not get my point, which I must say does not surprise me.
mike2810 said:
we will have to agree to disagree. Your comment about "real lack of sportsmanship in sports", when occurs shows a larger underlying problem. It starts with the parents.

I still say, let the kids enjoy and celebrate in sports. They can be shown/taught how to do it without taunting.
Amazing my generation for the most part did just fine without all these rules.
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Depending upon when your generation is, it's conceivable your generation consists of the parents who are the problem. :)

But it's hard for me to reply much more than that, because I don't know what years your generation include.


shlunka said:
Excessive celebratory acts? So you just tuck in your tail, lower your head, and pretend you didn't accomplish anything?
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Or you can settle for a high five and a hug with your teammates, instead of something which draws attention to yourself and taunts the competition (theoretically). Or you can simply act like you've won something before and then celebrate later in private.
Crosscheck said:
Am sorry, but my own post cracked me up so much I had to repeat it. Thanks to Goshin for setting me up with that one. Don't mind if I take a bow at all.
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As long as someone was amused by it. ;)
Dr. Chuckles said:
there is always going to be subjectivity in sports officiating.
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Absolutely, but this is a subjective interpretation which can lead to disqualification. It's much better to just prohibit it totally. I mean, what advantage is lost by not being allowed to raise your arms in a 4x100 relay?

shlunka said:
I hope the officials left a round in the starting gun to shoot themselves with after making that call.
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Yes, because those starter pistols do such terrible damage....

Dr. Chuckles said:
I agree the general idea seems rather stupid, and a byproduct of "everyone is a winner" mentality. It's like we want to ingrain in people there is something wrong with success
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A) Eliminating taunting has nothing to do with "everyone is a winner" mentality.
B) Success has nothing to do with winning.
 
Slyfox696 said:
Absolutely, but this is a subjective interpretation which can lead to disqualification. It's much better to just prohibit it totally. I mean, what advantage is lost by not being allowed to raise your arms in a 4x100 relay?
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fun, a moment to be proud of one's hard work, etc


A) Eliminating taunting has nothing to do with "everyone is a winner" mentality.
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Well, when you remove the ability to merely celebrate success, as opposed to actual taunting, one might say your means to eliminate taunting doesn't really have anything to do with eliminating taunting


B) Success has nothing to do with winning.
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Indeed it does. Unless you are saying winning has no relation to "the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like"
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
fun, a moment to be proud of one's hard work, etc
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So the only time one can enjoy their hard work is in the 40-45 seconds of the event, and not for days afterwards?
 
Slyfox696 said:
So the only time one can enjoy their hard work is in the 40-45 seconds of the event, and not for days afterwards?
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it's a rather pivotal moment for enjoying that success, because it's the very moment your hard work and dedication payed off, and it's a clear emotional high point in sports
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
I'm not sure citing hurt feelings over a raised arm really helps your position. As a basis for a rule, it's rather silly, even at the grade school level
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I think the DQ was uncalled for, and a very bad interpretation of the letter of the law. But let's not kid ourselves about what Breitbart is really concerned about.
 
Dr. Chuckles said:
it's a rather pivotal moment for enjoying that success, because it's the very moment your hard work and dedication payed off, and it's a clear emotional high point in sports
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He could have enjoyed everything just as much if he had waited only another second or two. Even when my kids are winning their heat, I always tell them to run through the line, to not compete against others but yourself and the stopwatch. We'll celebrate after, usually with medals, and on a couple occasions this year, with re-doing the record board. I promise you those kids felt every bit as happy then as they did winning their heat/race.
 
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