Comments on: Yankee Panky: Broken Records

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:09:03 +0000

[54] the very elaborate nature of a celebration can be taken as a lack of consideration for the opponent

I agree with this part, but just cause it can be taken that way doesn’t mean it should.

And again, there have been enough instances where people take spontaneous celebration personally, like Aubrey Huff, who countered with a choreographed celebration which undoubtedly targeted the opposing pitcher.

I’m really just saying those that think Fielder’s antics are showing up the other team are incorrect. If he was deliberately showing them up then I could understand the criticism, but as I’ve mentioned, I personally don’t see it as any worse as the “spontaneous” walk-off celebrations a la the Yankees’ helmet throw, little kids dance, pie in the face.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:02:37 +0000

[56] I’m not up to snuff on pasting URLs with WordPress (sorry), but there’s an article about it on CBS sports.com with a link in the text.

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:55:21 +0000

In all this Jeter-watching, don’t forget about A-Rod! He has a chance for 30 HRs and a respectable year even by his standards. Whoo-hooo!

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:48:46 +0000

Anyone got a link to the video of the Fielder/Brewers celebration?

By: Boatzilla

Boatzilla — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:48:07 +0000

[52] Interesting debate, but if you watch the footage carefully there is very little difference between what the Brewers did and what the Yankees do after every sayonara homer or hit. In fact, the Yankee celebrations are much more intense and self-indulgent. The Brewers had a big celebration at home plate. That’s it. It did not even look very choreographed. You really have to use your imagination to get the bowling pin allusion. No big deal, and whoever is bitching about it has another problem. (i.e. they lost).

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:16:57 +0000

[52] That is true, but…

Choreographed celebration implies and elaborate celebration, and the very elaborate nature of a celebration can be taken as a lack of consideration for the opponent (at best) or even an effort to humiliate him (at worst).

You are correct that a spontaneous celebration might be just as big or elaborate (good example of everyone piling on at home plate, as is usually the case), but the opponent is more likely to give the victors a pass if such a celebration appears unplanned–it will be taken as a visceral, emotional reaction, fundamentally un-thought-out and thus not likely to be tainted with directed malice (“they were just captured by the moment, they didn’t know what they were doing”).

The choreographed celebration is likely to evoke a different response (“they should KNOW better than to show up their opponents like that…even if they didn’t mean anything by it, it’s still inconsiderate/disrespectful/not right/etc”).

Interestingly, I find the helmet-throw-home-plate-pile off-putting because it is clear that this has become a sort of choreographed deal. Surely it is not spontaneous when the runner prepares to toss his helmet at third base and everyone is gathered around the plate in anticipation.

By: Sliced Bread

Sliced Bread — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:34:41 +0000

[45] I hear ya, Shaun, but re: the role model thing, I don’t think athletes should be held up as role models for life (we know very little about how athletes live), but for how the game is played.
I wouldn’t point to the Brewers celebration and say to my kids, that’s how you play the game, quite the opposite.

By: The Hawk

The Hawk — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:22:16 +0000

[48] Interesting theory but I don’t buy it. A lack of spontaneity doesn’t suggest that it’s directed at the other team or pitcher. That’s a bit of a leap, as would be the converse.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:53:51 +0000

[50] grrrr…that is in response to [45].

Now I’m a major loser for posting like 50 times in a row.

By: monkeypants

monkeypants — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:53:14 +0000

[50] And sadly, no, I don’t think we should hold professional athletes out as role models, for anyone.

But perhaps more importantly: while we shouldn’t hold them out as role models, as public figures they are already role models, whether they (or we) like it or not.