All business vs having fun vs showing up your opponent

[RoarLions1]

All business
-- Walk off the mat after winning, no flair, "business-as-usual", "act-like-I've-been-there-before"

Having fun
-- Hold up #1 (finger) ala Jason Nolf, every bout win
-- Quick flex, ala Nick Lee, every bout win
-- Major flex, ala Tank or Mark Hall
-- Mark's throw-down-the-hammer, and other, more spontaneous, gestures (or are they not spontaneous?)
-- Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech
-- RBY's thumb-finger gesture to Gross, showing "this close"
-- and others as you see fit

Showing up your opponent
-- Standing over an opponent after a win
-- Refusing to shake hands
-- Throat slash gesture
-- and others as you see fit

I like a little personality, so the Having Fun stuff is good with me. I also am a conservative man, by nature, so being All Business is good too (I'm a guy, win or lose, that would shake hands and move on with life), and yes it includes my days playing BASKETBALL. My opinion about Showing Up Your Opponent is that it should never be done, all sports, all ages. The question for each person to answer is where that line is … it's surely different for each of us. An example is Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech. Saw nothing wrong with it, but knew it would blow up with other fan bases.

Just starting a wrestling-related thread. Try to keep it between the ditches .

 

[psu_flip]

My son's high school team was wrestling the worst team in their league. Three of the best wrestlers knew they had easy matchups. They made a bet for a post match milkshake on who could score the quickest tech fall. They all could've easily gotten quick first period pins. Instead, they all got first period techs. When I first found out about it I chalked it up as kids just having fun, but then a part of me felt a little bad like they were showing up the opponent.

 

[nerfstate]

All business
-- Walk off the mat after winning, no flair, "business-as-usual", "act-like-I've-been-there-before"

Having fun
-- Hold up #1 (finger) ala Jason Nolf, every bout win
-- Quick flex, ala Nick Lee, every bout win
-- Major flex, ala Tank or Mark Hall
-- Mark's throw-down-the-hammer, and other, more spontaneous, gestures (or are they not spontaneous?)
-- Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech
-- RBY's thumb-finger gesture to Gross, showing "this close"
-- and others as you see fit

Showing up your opponent
-- Standing over an opponent after a win
-- Refusing to shake hands
-- Throat slash gesture
-- and others as you see fit

I like a little personality, so the Having Fun stuff is good with me. I also am a conservative man, by nature, so being All Business is good too (I'm a guy, win or lose, that would shake hands and move on with life), and yes it includes my days playing BASKETBALL. My opinion about Showing Up Your Opponent is that it should never be done, all sports, all ages. The question for each person to answer is where that line is … it's surely different for each of us. An example is Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech. Saw nothing wrong with it, but knew it would blow up with other fan bases.

Just starting a wrestling-related thread. Try to keep it between the ditches .

I would love to see Federer win another major.

I’m more or less with you. No problem with the first two groups. Context weighs heavily in how I’d judge group 3, or the line between 2 & 3. e.g. I still get a chuckle over Gilman invading the Minnesota lineup; The heart laughs at what the heart laughs at. Is that Shakespeare?

 

[SWPA]

Quite often, having fun or showing up an opponent will quickly turn back into all business after a loss or wood shedding.

 

[diggerpup]

“HEY CORY... THROW ME.”

 

[PASLP2]

Throat slash gesture never a good look in sports.

 

[creamery freak]

All business
-- Walk off the mat after winning, no flair, "business-as-usual", "act-like-I've-been-there-before"

Having fun
-- Hold up #1 (finger) ala Jason Nolf, every bout win
-- Quick flex, ala Nick Lee, every bout win
-- Major flex, ala Tank or Mark Hall
-- Mark's throw-down-the-hammer, and other, more spontaneous, gestures (or are they not spontaneous?)
-- Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech
-- RBY's thumb-finger gesture to Gross, showing "this close"
-- and others as you see fit

Showing up your opponent
-- Standing over an opponent after a win
-- Refusing to shake hands
-- Throat slash gesture
-- and others as you see fit

I like a little personality, so the Having Fun stuff is good with me. I also am a conservative man, by nature, so being All Business is good too (I'm a guy, win or lose, that would shake hands and move on with life), and yes it includes my days playing BASKETBALL. My opinion about Showing Up Your Opponent is that it should never be done, all sports, all ages. The question for each person to answer is where that line is … it's surely different for each of us. An example is Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech. Saw nothing wrong with it, but knew it would blow up with other fan bases.

Just starting a wrestling-related thread. Try to keep it between the ditches .

I really thought Joseph showed up IMar when he took him to his back for the fall during the 2017 NCAA wrestling finals! Now to the serious side, I really think it is a class move when our opponents, win or lose, go over and shake our coaches hand after a match. The OSU kids are usually good about that.

 

[psu_flip]

This is a guy having fun.....

What does Morningstar say to him?

 

[CropDuster507]

Winners make their own rules.

I know how much many of you love my approach to sports and celebrating lol.

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

I really thought Joseph showed up IMar when he took him to his back for the fall during the 2017 NCAA wrestling finals! Now to the serious side, I really think it is a class move when our opponents, win or lose, go over and shake our coaches hand after a match. The OSU kids are usually good about that.[/QUOT


Yes, they are, but they are also guilty of the “ pistol firing”, which I am shocked is still tolerated in this society.
(No,it doesnt bother me)

 

[District four]

It's all about motive. Sportsmanship isn't about showing the other guy up its about the recognition that the competition is high and you both have it your best effort.

 

[CholleyVandine]

All class

 

[Dogwelder]

I like it when a wrestler wins and he celebrates by already wearing a blue and white Penn State singlet.

 

[kingslayer_85]

I have always been in the first category but can understand the second.

 

[82bordeaux]

I think the way you show up an opponent is by having no more reaction than if you're picking up your lunch pail and punching out for the day. Cenzo didn't have that much of a reaction after beating Marinelli last month. But these guys work so hard, so if they want to celebrate without being disrespectful, I'm OK with that.

 

[Dogwelder]

I have always been in the first category but can understand the second.

That’s what I would’ve done, if I ever would’ve won!

 

[Dogwelder]

I think the way you show up an opponent is by having no more reaction than if you're picking up your lunch pail and punching out for the day ...

Agreed. Sometimes, though, celebrating inspires teammates, or fans, or potential recruits/T-shirt buyers (Bo). I loved it when rookie Magic Johnson celebrated his first Laker game and win by going crazy and hugging Kareem and not letting go. I think that was calculated to inject passion into Kareem and the ennuied Laker veterans.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

This might be a little much for a NCAA wrestling win celebration. Throwing on a "been there, destroyed that" t-shirt right after a championship win might also be rubbing it in too much. Maybe Joseph can have a pizza brought out right after he wins #3 to celebrate not having to cut from 200+ pounds anymore.

 

[El-Jefe]

This is a guy having fun.....

View embedded media

What does Morningstar say to him?

Ashnault firing pistols at John Smith ... definitely showing up.

Not how we would have handled it.

Still funny. Especially given how much the OKST benched chirped in that match.

 

[matter7172]

Ashnault firing pistols at John Smith ... definitely showing up.

Not how we would have handled it.

Still funny. Especially given how much the OKST benched chirped in that match.

Would have been even funnier if Rutgers hadn't gotten their a@* kicked in the match.

 

[slushhead]

All class

View embedded media

Seriously? More tennis?

 

[slushhead]

I have always been in the first category but can understand the second.

Same here.

Roar, man, you needed to make this a poll -- get the truth out!

 

[IwasAwful]

Just my two sense, but as a coach I have always found it a bit uncomfortable when the opposing wrestler comes over to shake hands. If your kid just beat them it’s a bit weird and if your kid lost it’s the last thing you want to do. I love the show of respect, but personally find it a bit awkward.

 

[CurtisLoew40]

I don't think Hall's hammer thing was spontaneous. Same as Valencia's when he won in the finals. I don't really care what they do. I don't like the look of standing over a guy but I wouldn't care if the guy got up and punched the dude who was doing it.
There is something to the whole "act like you've been there before" like LT handing the football to the ref every time he scored. To each their own I guess. Personally didn't like RBY's "this close" thing. Comes off as sour grapes to me and in the end it doesn't matter if you lose by a foot or a mile.

 

[jschrantz]

Not all hand shakes were created equal, these drive by ones I see these days all the time are not respect, look your opponent in the eye and deliver a real one, I’m looking at you Mr. Marinelli

 

[slushhead]

Not all hand shakes were created equal, these drive by ones I see these days all the time are not respect, look your opponent in the eye and deliver a real one, I’m looking at you Mr. Marinelli

Something told me he wasn't going to be "looking" anything in the eye until the bleeding and swelling subsided.

 

[Conewago]

Winners make their own rules.

I know how much many of you love my approach to sports and celebrating lol.

Good for you, Thrasymachus.

https://www.iep.utm.edu/thrasymachus/#H2

 

[Conewago]

As PSU fans, we're all gonna say RBY's gesture was "just having fun."

If we were not PSU fans, we might consider it obnoxious.

So, my point is, a few of these things are pretty subjective.

 

[PASLP2]

I don’t have a problem with wrestlers celebrating a victory, ours or theirs. I do take some issue with taunting and cringe-worthy, disrespectful gestures. I’ll share that I consider Ashnault’s gesture more playful than disrespectful (John Smith may feel differently. Didn’t have any issues with the way the Iowa wrestlers handled their individual victories last month. But, something tells me if the result at 133 was reversed, I would have had a problem with that particular wrestler’s reaction to it.

 

[Dogwelder]

Good for you, Thrasymachus.

https://www.iep.utm.edu/thrasymachus/#H2

You like dinosaurs too? Cool! Stegosaurus is another good one!

 

[CropDuster507]

Good for you, Thrasymachus.

https://www.iep.utm.edu/thrasymachus/#H2

I never thought I'd learn some shit on here, but you've proven me wrong. AND, now I can site someone smarter than me when I tell my athletes that.

You like dinosaurs too? Cool! Stegosaurus is another good one!

I teach elementary and got to read a kindergartener a book on my way out of school today all about freaking dinosaurs. Did you know Stegosaruses and T-Rex's didn't actually live at the same time on this planet?

 

[dunkej01]

Not all hand shakes were created equal, these drive by ones I see these days all the time are not respect, look your opponent in the eye and deliver a real one, I’m looking at you Mr. Marinelli

Wildturkey...better get em.

 

[Cali_Nittany]

I never thought I'd learn some shit on here, but you've proven me wrong. AND, now I can site someone smarter than me when I tell my athletes that.


I teach elementary and got to read a kindergartener a book on my way out of school today all about freaking dinosaurs. Did you know Stegosaruses and T-Rex's didn't actually live at the same time on this planet?

From context, I knew what he meant but I still had to look up "ennuied". Thanks @Dogwelder . That is what my wife would call a "SAT word".

 

[RoarLions1]

Thanks for the conversation all. Seems there's a good bit of consensus. Tells me we respect this sport, which I'll call a "gladiator" sport. It's one-on-one, mano-a-mano. Lose and you go get better, win and you go get better, then see who wins next time. A mini celebration (your posts suggest) is ok, just don't taunt your opponent.

 

[Dogwelder]

... which I'll call a "gladiator" sport ...

Do you like movies about gladiators?

 

[Haillions]

All business
-- Walk off the mat after winning, no flair, "business-as-usual", "act-like-I've-been-there-before"

Having fun
-- Hold up #1 (finger) ala Jason Nolf, every bout win
-- Quick flex, ala Nick Lee, every bout win
-- Major flex, ala Tank or Mark Hall
-- Mark's throw-down-the-hammer, and other, more spontaneous, gestures (or are they not spontaneous?)
-- Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech
-- RBY's thumb-finger gesture to Gross, showing "this close"
-- and others as you see fit

Showing up your opponent
-- Standing over an opponent after a win
-- Refusing to shake hands
-- Throat slash gesture
-- and others as you see fit

I like a little personality, so the Having Fun stuff is good with me. I also am a conservative man, by nature, so being All Business is good too (I'm a guy, win or lose, that would shake hands and move on with life), and yes it includes my days playing BASKETBALL. My opinion about Showing Up Your Opponent is that it should never be done, all sports, all ages. The question for each person to answer is where that line is … it's surely different for each of us. An example is Bo's "that's-what-we-do" speech. Saw nothing wrong with it, but knew it would blow up with other fan bases.

Just starting a wrestling-related thread. Try to keep it between the ditches .

I remember with great admiration when Quentin would stay on one knee until the just-pinned opponent got off his back and rose to his feet. Now that was something special.

 

[STAND with PRIDE]

I remember with great admiration when Quentin would stay on one knee until the just-pinned opponent got off his back and rose to his feet. Now that was something special.

Then Bo took it a step farther and would actually help them up!

 

[Dogwelder]

... Quentin would stay on one knee until the just-pinned opponent got off his back and rose to his feet ...

For sportsmanship, I told the kids I was coaching that, when they wrestle an ugly opponent, they should go out with a paper bag over their face in solidarity.

 

[Ja1339]

I don’t have a problem with wrestlers celebrating a victory, ours or theirs. I do take some issue with taunting and cringe-worthy, disrespectful gestures. I’ll share that I consider Ashnault’s gesture more playful than disrespectful (John Smith may feel differently. Didn’t have any issues with the way the Iowa wrestlers handled their individual victories last month. But, something tells me if the result at 133 was reversed, I would have had a problem with that particular wrestler’s reaction to it.

We may need a separate 4th category for Desanto's antics.