Winning with grace?

[red14]

Tight game, clock winding down, two great teams competing for glory and a chance to play for a world championship. Seconds are left (22), close score, one team comes up with a stop and secures the victory. A hard fought victory over another great team.

When interviewed right after the game, a back for the Seahawks chose to denigrate an opposing player calling him 'sorry' and then proclaimed to the world he was ''the best corner in the game''. When actually, he just knocked the ball away, and his teammate intercepted the ball to end the possession. If he had not intercepted the ball (it was 1st down), the offence gets the ball back with 22 seconds and 3 downs to still possibly win the game.

Whatever happened to congratulating the other team, showing some class, and winning with grace? I was taught to respect the other team, give them credit for being a good team, and that makes your success more impressive. If the guy you just beat is a bum and has no talent, doesn't that say you are just a little bit better than a no-talent bum?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=G7UPXzHShpc

 

[Comrad]

For that reason alone I am now a Denver fan.

 

[Rangerpat]

What goes around comes around...
Richard Sherman will eat his words.

 

[Jst1mr]

Grace and honor were officially ushered out of the sporting world by Muhammad Ali.

 

[kozmic]

I know there was some bantering back and forth between the 2 players (which is to be expected), but this guy was over the top. He has done some subsequent interviews and has doubled down on his classless arrogance and berated everyone else he has spoken with. His mom must be so proud!

Sherman is a good player, no doubt. Regardless of his talent, he would not remain on my roster. I went from "no real favorite" in the game to an ardent Broncos fan!

 

[ohiojerry]

Go Broncos!

 

[diamonback68]

Grace and honor were officially ushered out of the sporting world by Muhammad Ali.

Agreed. Who cares what these meatheads say, it's all hype to boost up the ratings. This is not Little League here. It's all about big corporations and big bucks. If anyone switches because of what one guys says, then you don't know football, been going on for decades.

 

[BrianE]

Competitive sports are much different now then many years back. One thing you dont see is how much trash talking goes on during the game, cheap shots taken under the pile of men... you're not there so its easy for you to judge during an outburst as Richard Sherman had. When these things take place and the adrenaline is pumping you get taken in the moment.. these guys are still young men, early twenties and competitive as he'll. Does it make it right? Not at all, but ive played major sports (not pro) for 20+ years and when you play with the areas elite that's the norm. They trash talk... they ALL do it to some extent.

 

[S&W45Colt]

Let's look at reality, I could care less what school they were let into to play a sport, most of those guys are cretins. Take the QB's and a few other positions out of the equation and I'd be willing to bet the average IQ of the NFL, along with the NBA is less than 90, probably closer to 80.

Now combine that with these athletes getting treated specially since they were 10-12 years old, are you shocked it's a group of classless brutes?

The good old days of sport are over. I stopped watching NBA basketball ten years ago, I'm not sure the NFL isn't about to go the same way for me.

JMO

 

[BrianE]

Agreed.. pro sports are based on talent. Not your GPA or your good etiquette/manners.

I think some of these knuckleheads should cut their hair too, but who am I?

 

[S&W45Colt]

Competitive sports are much different now then many years back. One thing you dont see is how much trash talking goes on during the game, cheap shots taken under the pile of men... you're not there so its easy for you to judge during an outburst as Richard Sherman had. When these things take place and the adrenaline is pumping you get taken in the moment.. these guys are still young men, early twenties and competitive as he'll. Does it make it right? Not at all, but ive played major sports (not pro) for 20+ years and when you play with the areas elite that's the norm. They trash talk... they ALL do it to some extent.

A man IS responsible for what he says and how he acts, that's the way it is. People can make all the excuses they want, people remember you for how you act, speak to and treat people, that's called real life. Once you develop a reputation, you live with it. Apparently that's something that has eluded the younger generation, but they'll get it eventually or end up like Terrell Owens, Chad Ochoidiot etc. How's that working for them?

I will not disagree things occur in the field or in the locker room that if you are not playing, you miss, but you have to have enough sense to realize when you step off the field and are dealing with the public, not peers..

 

[S&W45Colt]

Agreed.. pro sports are based on talent. Not your GPA or your good etiquette/manners.

I think some of these knuckleheads should cut their hair too, but who am I?

....I liked that one!!

 

[arjay]

The guy is nuts..

 

[Comrad]

Professional spots in this country have become a disgrace. The NFL is totally out of control with the Super Bowl, there I said it Super Bowl. Did you know the town of East Rutherford where the stadium is can not use the word Super Bowl and has been completely shut out from any local participation and any share of the mythical financial windfall from the game. The NFL thinks they can dictate all the rules. A couple of road closures on game day would show them who's boss.

 

[A10]

So.....how many folks knew who Sherman was before Sunday? Maybe some fans, maybe most Seahawks fans? How many know who he is now? The guy has been the subject of unending comments everywhere.....so because he acted like an idiot on camera, he is now more famous than ever. Think there might be some motivation there?

The guy has an ego the size of a Greyhound bus (most pro athletes do). I'd expect to see more of this kind of thing as a result of all the media attention.....

 

[Mule Packer]

Let's look at reality...most of those guys are cretins. I'd be willing to bet the average IQ of the NFL, along with the NBA is less than 90, probably closer to 80.

Then....there's the great quote by Patrick Ewing during the 1988-89 NBA lockout:

"Sure we make a lot of money, but we spend a lot, too."

Some of these guys can do anything with a ball...except sign it.

 

[shouldazagged]

I won with Grace, but I got nowhere with Melissa.

With regard to the observation that "this isn't Little League", that's exactly right. Little Leaguers are taught sportsmanship. That's one reason the LL World Series is one of my favorite sporting events to watch.

Sherman is an athletically-gifted oaf, churl, idiot and general hemorrhoid. Other than that he's pretty irritating.

(I haven't used the word "churl" in many years. Damn, that felt good!)

 

[SweetMK]

I gotta cut the guy some slack. Sherman has been a top performer all year.

Being on the east coast, I have not seen the west coast Seahawks many times.

From what I have seen he is good.

He had JUST had a career topping play, that said, I believe he was on an adrenaline high.

I had a daughter that played basketball, when the adrenaline took over she was a "Super Woman", unstoppable.

She needed 15 minutes after a high stress game to "come back to earth".

Several times when on an adrenaline rush she threw discus over 135 feet, once over 146 feet. She was 16 years old and doing that.

Look up your state records for girls discus.

So give the guy some slack. If you saw the play that ended the game, you will understand.

 

[blujax01]

Watch the NFL player interview.

Flip the channel.

Watch the WWE wrestler interview.

Same thing, right?

Now watch the commercials after both interviews.

Upcoming match of the century.

And Beer. Lots of girls you can never have selling beer.

Again - same thing.

 

[labworm]

Sportsmanship:

In Hockey (Stanley Cup Playoffs) we hug and shake hands after the game, that is if you are still able to stand up.