So, the other team should stop trying to score? Maybe give them a pity point or two? That's insulting. There's nothing wrong with being competitive. I've had my butt kicked in many a sports event, I'm not traumatized...I just hate to lose.
Did you read any of my posts previous to this? I did yours.
I'm not saying that at all. you're right, it is insulting.
I don't think that a team should take a knee every down if they're up 35 points in football.
I don't think a team should hand the ball over to the opponent when they're up by 40 points in basketball.
I don't think a team should have their batters just stand and watch the ball go by or throw up lob pitches if they're up by 10 points in baseball.
I'm not saying that at all. What I'm saying is
You don't throw long bombs on 1st and 2nd down, or fake spiking the ball only to throw a touch down, or go for it on 4th down on your 40 if you're up 35 points and soundely trouncing the opponent in football.
You don't do non-stop alley oops or have your foot and a half taller man child bust into the paint each and every play or shoot nonstop 3's or play press defense if you're up by 40 points in basektball.
You don't call constant stolen bases, or pinch hit to get a power batter into the line up, or start pitching inside heat if you're up by 10 points in baseball.
And you don't sit there and continue to play your entire starting line up as you pulvarize the other team.
I'm not saying you're supposed to tank the game. I'm saying you don't purposefully try to "Run up the score". If you end up putting your 2nd or third string in there, and run a conservative but reasonable game plan, and you still put up some points then so be it. That's not running up the score in my mind.
I gave an example from last year. There was some High School Football team that won 90ish to 10, or something absurd like that. However I don't consider that running up the score as once the game was clearly handily won the coach put in all his 2nd and 3rd stringers and basically just did normal running plays or short passes. That's not "running up the score" to me. It would've been just as insulting and embarassing if he had his team just take a knee every down as he would've if he had them throwing bombs with the first team. Both would've been the wrong option and I'm not advocating one over the other.