Friday, January 06, 2006

Celebration As Art Form

I'm a little old school when in comes to sports celebrating. I like it when officials punish taunting and celebrating and trash talking. I like it when a player knocks the snot out of the other player, then without a word reaches down and helps the woosey opponent back to his feet. That's just me.

But some people like the celebrations. The NFL, which for a while tried to stop the ridiculous celebrations for doing your job, and was briefly called the "No Fun League" by people too shortsighted to realize that the fun of the league was supposed to be in the sport of football and not in the sport of poor sportsmanship, relaxed its "no celebration" penalty a few years ago. As a result, the celebration has become prominant again.

The best at it this year appears to be Bengal wide out Chad Johnson (a photo of his "Football CPR" celebration above). Chad, lucky enough to play for the Bengals in a year that they don't suck, Johnson was able to score a number of touchdowns, and he proved quite original in his celebratory methods.

The top ten list of his TD celebrations is here. Some great photos, including a video clip of his Riverdance celebration, may be found here.

Enjoy.

10 Comments:

At 3:34 PM, Blogger Lucy Stern said...

Some of that strutting around that they do is a little over the top. Im with you on the "old school".

 
At 5:26 PM, Blogger spd rdr said...

I think it's stupid. If I was the Bengals' Coach, I would have benched him for that idiotic stunt. What? Did the guy think he got six all by himself? There're 11 men on the field pushing him in. I don't mind the "Lambeau Leap," but I'm against all of the other stupid nonsense that I see on the field today. And yes I'm damned cranky about it. Poor sportsmanship sucks. And DO NOT ask me about Marcus Vick and his assault on the prone Louisville player the other day. Most of us here in Virginia are INCENSED about this act of cheap thugism. I don't care whose brother he is, if Frank Beamer allows this piece of garbage back on the field in a Virginia Tech uniform, there will be hell to pay.
Have a nice day.

 
At 5:48 PM, Blogger spd rdr said...

And no sooner do I make an idiot of myself in the previous post then I receive an email from daughter #3, a junior at Virginia Tech. "Bye-bye, Mr. Vick."

January 6, 2006

Virginia Tech quarterback Marcus Vick has been permanently dismissed from the Hokie football program due to a cumulative effect of legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play.


Virginia Tech had suspended Vick in 2004. The university provided one last opportunity for Vick to become a citizen of the university and re-admitted him in January 2005, with the proviso that any future problems would result in automatic dismissal from the team.


Head Football Coach Frank Beamer met with Vick and his mother this afternoon and informed the quarterback and his family of the University's decision. His recent actions are unfortunate and we wish him well in his future endeavors.


****


Said Coach Frank Beamer, "I'm very disappointed that this didn't have a better ending. We wanted what's best for this football team and Marcus. I certainly wish him the best."

 
At 8:01 AM, Blogger Cassandra said...

I can't stand poor sportsmanship, or dirty hits either.

I made a point of teaching my sons not to act that way, and it turned out to be a good thing because my youngest was always the youngest boy on the field (but also the biggest guy on defense and also the best, so he was always getting called every time there was a collision b/twn him and another player). Fortunately after a while he got a reputation for being a scrupulously fair player and no local ref would call him. It was just when we went to away games that he got creamed.

I had to laugh last week when that moron (can't remember who right now) started humping the goal post after making a touch down run and then the refs called a penalty and took the TD away.

re: Vick, I'm glad Va Tech did the right thing. The Unit and his brother were just down there for the NCarolina game and they've been rooting for Tech. I'm sorry to see them lose their QB but this needed to happen.

Vick, of course, is unrepentant. He told reporters, "I'll just move up to the next level"... which means, I suppose, that he's turning pro.

I suggest an appropriate match for his character would be the Baltimore Ravens. He should fit in nicely there.

 
At 3:40 PM, Blogger spd rdr said...

Yeah, well, I expect him to one day be appearing in the reality show "The Longest Yard: San Quentin"

 
At 5:25 PM, Blogger Cassandra said...

Warn me next time :)

 
At 8:26 AM, Blogger Cassandra said...

*Ptui*

Sigh...

 
At 4:02 PM, Blogger KJ said...

Remember when Billy White Shoes Johnson's TD dance seemed "outrageous?"

 
At 5:38 AM, Blogger camojack said...

I think they pay those NFL guys quite well enough to restrain themselves from acting like a bunch of children...but then, that's me.

 
At 5:58 PM, Blogger Cassandra said...

I can't say anything nice, so I'm not going to say anything at all. I am cranky and tired.

Well, here is something nice: Nice post (up top) KJ. I'd comment but I am fresh out of smart things to say.

 

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