Bad Sportsmanship

[Leanne]

Today's episode from Serena Williams at the US Open was far from her first -- now, I know there's a lot of pressure on elite athletes, financial, emotional or otherwise, but is it ever ok to display this kind of bad attitude? Should more be done in sport to eradicate bad behaviour?

(Oh, and congratulations to Sam Stosur, go Aussie!)

[Todd]

I think both finalists are on steroids and it's roid rage.

I know this makes me a downer for the aussie win. If we can only judge the flower and not the root than I'd say 1 year minimum ban for the outburst.

[billy]

most sports have rules to punish players should they get too john macinroe (sp) come monday she'll probably have a two tournament ban to keep her more respectful of her game. i suppose as a role model, her actions aren't something to be emulated but the pressure can be hard too cork at times. i was glad she gave credit to the winner.

is it okay to display that kind of emotion, personally i think yes, it gives the game character and dimension.

[Leanne]

So when does it stop being "emotion" and start being "acting like a spoilt brat"? Because that's what it seems like to me, when you make threats against the umpire's person just because something doesn't go your own way.

[billy]

when the umpire puts a complaint in and they get banned for x matches.
which is probably what will happen in this instance. i think anger at a hard call is less offensive than remarks about the person.
i'm not saying don't punish fro such crap, just saying it may help if young players see her get punished and know why.

[addy]

I noticed that about quite a few sports... there's a kind of permissiveness about players acting up because it's understandable to get emotional when you're pumped full of adrenalin (even the fans get out of hand, yelling at the ref and stuff). At the same time that's precisely the reason it's drilled into players that they have to abide by a higher standard of conduct so as not to compromise the institution of the game... so yes, it's human to act that way but it's not "ok" from a professional standpoint.

[Touchstone]

most sports have rules to punish players should they get too john macinroe

They do.

But it's token. She got fined $2000 deducted from her winning of $1.4M

The truth is the governing authorities of any sport love bad boys/girls. And they love them because the public loves them.

Top level sport is no longer (was it ever?) about "sport". It's about entertainment, and outbursts have high "tut, tut" value--to put it bluntly: they're entertaining.

In fact a better question might be: is there any such thing anywhere as "pure sport"? Even the mums and dads standing on the sidelines of their kids football matches want to see their offspring crush the opposition not be "beaten by a better side"

[Wildcard]

College football is a sport that punishes outbursts of any kind harshly and every year the NCAA makes those penalties more severe. It has crushed the spirit of the game and forbids even celebrations. I am not a fan of that kind of censure.
However, these athletes, like Serena who throw tantrums and threaten the lives of officials take the entertainment too far. Too much drama and a sport falls to the level of the scripted, ludicrous WCW.

[billy]

as you say, it gets bums on seats but 2000 was a bit of a farce if you ask me. they could have handicapped her for the next tournament or something.
in football (english) players get match bans for bad tackles or acts of stupidity.

[Touchstone]

It is a farce but it's a necessary one. Although they're happy when sportsmen/women act up they don't want it to happen too often and they certainly can't be seen to actively condone such behaviour.

It's the same as the trolls you get on internet forums. They add spice and provoke people into posting, which is great, but you don't overtly reward them.

[billy]

true, we could do with a good troll in the sewer. (off topic)

do young people emulate the tantrums of sport stars? i suppose they must, in which case it should be stamped
at grass roots level. i have to be honest and say i love seeing a good punch up in any sport.

[Touchstone]

i have to be honest and say i love seeing a good punch up in any sport.

So you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem.

[billy]

i think so. i wnet throuh a phase of watching auzzy rules footy, just for the on field punch ups, some of them are classics hehe.
i'm not a supporter of fans losing the nut but love it when the players lose it. it's the rush of seeing an opposing player hack the legs of someone on my team and screaming "YOU DIRTY BASTARD" hehe it's the bad bits that make snon participation sports participatory.
it doesn't mean i don't want to see em face big bans

[Touchstone]

Hmmm, so does that mean you won't ban me, a non-participating poet, if I troll novices relentlessly over grammar errors and make 'em cry?

[billy]

not if you do it in a nice way hehe.
and you don't have to write poetry to give feedback
but i was on about sports,

[addy]

Do you guys think that's what separates sports from games? Aggression? (Not being snarky; in light of the discussion I'm almost considering the idea)

[Touchstone]

Although people might not pummel each other over a game of Ludo I don't really think they pull the set out with the intention of losing. However muted, games are still about dominance.

[billy]

i love winning. i've seen scrabble players go ape shit hehe,
and card players who lose too much.

[abu nuwas]

I did not hear what Serena said, but if it was just threatening the Umpire with his life, what is all the fuss about? Did he really believe such a threat? Serena is one of my heroines, I would find it hard to condemn her, even if her bat turned into an AK, and she decimated the bedraggled folk at Flushing Meadows.......

As for Touchstone and his Ludo, my grand-daughter at four, would simply cease to play at that or Snakes and Ladders, if she thought the end was in sight. I think she still would, at five.

[billy]

a lot of the time it's the dissent that's makes the game worth watching.