Trying to catch up with my Google Reader, I found this item in Bill Ordine’s O, By The Way blog at the Baltimore Sun. The gist of the post (written by guest writer Keith Van Valkenburgh) is that athletes who are moderately or barely successful should not trash talk under any circumstances. Trash talking is an all too common sight in sports in this day and age. It’s no surprise to see players in the NFL doing dances, pounding their chests or flexing their biceps after making a good play. Whenever I see an athlete trash talk, whether as Valkenburgh argues that they are able to or not based on their accomplishments, I say that there is no need to draw attention to yourself for something you are supposed to do. For example, in baseball, a form of trash talking (although no verbal communication is made) is when a hitter admires a long home run off a pitcher by watching it sail out of the stadium (admittedly, this doesn’t happen much with the Orioles, usually the opponents knock the ball all over the yard). As the hitter, you are supposed to go up to bat with the idea of getting a hit; because you succeed, is that reason to show the pitcher up? To call unnecessary attention to yourself?
I always go back to Chris Rock, who said in his “Bring The Pain” comedy special, and I paraphrase, that why do people want credit for stuff that they are supposed to do? Like the father who brags that he takes care of his kids. Isn’t that what fathers are supposed to do? So if you are a football player and your job is supposed to sack the quarterback, is that reason to audition for Dancing With The Stars? To go bananas on a national stage with the sole aim of trying to appear on ESPN’s Sportscenter? I say, just do what you are supposed to do and get on with the game. Sports have become a breeding ground for human peacocks who just have to show off. Unfortunately, the ship has sailed and trash talking is now an accepted part of sports culture.
