Sportsmanship: Is It Officially Dead??

Let’s be clear: Alex Rodriguez knew exactly what he was doing when he crossed Dallas Braden’s pitching mound during a Yankees/A’s game last week. Anyone who has played organized baseball at an eighth-grade level or beyond knows there are certain unwritten rules you don’t break without repercussion, and walking across the pitcher's mound when trotting back to first base after a foul ball is one of them.

And A-Rod’s repercussion is coming -- count on it.

But the Yankee slugger’s latest ego-trip outside the rules for mere mortals raises more important questions than just how arrogant one of MLB’s top stars really is. Sportsmanship: Is it dead? What is the point of these so-called unwritten rules? They exist in every sport, but why?

Sportsmanship: What happened to it?

Like it or not, the traditional notions of respect for the game (including the opponent) are dying. Perhaps they’re being replaced by subtler versions of equal value, but we’d say every absurd arrest, ostentatious celebration and NBA superstar barking on all fours argues otherwise.

Ever since big money started creating bigger reservoirs of self-regard, “me” has become the focus for a growing number of athletes. Less energy can be spared worrying about the team and even less for any concern requiring greater depth of thought.

The fall of sportsmanship: NFL and NBA already casualties

Both the NFL and NBA are faster paced, more emotionally charged leagues than MLB. It drives their popularity, but the visceral nature is a double-edged sword. The competitive juices sometimes get too hot and in their wake are some of our most egregious examples of sportsmanship’s demise. Combined, these leagues have given us the Ron Artest melee, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Stephon Marbury, Vince Carter, and the list goes on.

Off the field, the story is even more gruesome yet -- for all his Draconian countermeasures, even Roger Goodell has been powerless to stop the decay. But what about the unwritten enforcers?

Their unwritten rules are different

These two more violent bedfellows do have some unwritten rules. The NBA’s unwritten rules say never pad your stats, don’t use full-court presses in blowouts, no threes once the margin gets too big, and others. Nevertheless, these are more like unwritten encouragements (i.e. the worst you’d get for breaking one is a little trash-talk), so who really cares?

The NFL’s oral agreements are more numerous, but they’re aimed at keeping players physically safe rather than the more trivial interests of congeniality and mutual respect. The one standard seems to be don’t run up the score, which encompasses stuff like don’t pass in a blowout, don’t go for two when the game is in hand, etc. Here again, however, we find an enforcement mechanism that lacks any serious teeth.

Baseball’s unwritten rules

For all its steroid warts and complaints about tepid action, professional baseball has an obvious and massive edge on its two most powerful competitors with regards to pastoral splendor. Much of the advantage can be attributed to the paramount importance its athletes place on sportsmanship and respect for the game.

The reverence isn’t innate; ballplayers don’t simply arrive in the Big Leagues with it intact.

That’s where its litany of traditional no-nos comes in to play and there are tons. A sample includes no sign-stealing; no excessive celebrating unless you’ve earned it (even then, it better be limited); no breaking up a no-hitter with a bunt unless situationally appropriate; no talking about a no-hitter after the fifth inning; no calling time-out in the middle of a pitcher’s windup; and no yelling at infielders trying to catch a pop-up.

Of course, the glue that holds it all together is the beanball, which is an acceptable form of retribution so long as it isn't at the head (which is never OK unless it’s return fire for the same offense).

Sportsmanship is about respect

Former player, manager and current broadcaster Bob Brenly once described baseball’s unwritten code as being about three things: “respect your teammates, respect your opponents and respect the game.”

You can see those strains running through almost every one of its unwritten rules.

And if you don’t agree, you’ll see 108 stitches coming at you.

Apparently, that’s more persuasive than a fine.

Check out our website http://sportzofallsortz.com

What About Corruption In Sport??

Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone appeared in a German court this week as a witness in the biggest corruption trial the country has seen in over 60 years.

He's not in the dock, but he is accused of paying £27.5 million to an executive working for a state-owned bank. Ecclestone originally denied making the payment, but now says he was being blackmailed.

The man on trial for accepting the payment is Gerhard Gribkowsky, a former chief risk officer with the BayernLB bank. He's also charged with breach of trust and tax evasion over his part in the 2005 sale of the bank's £526 million stake in Formula 1 to private equity group CVC.

It's alleged that Ecclestone wanted the CVC deal to go through because that would enable him to stay in firm control of the sport. Ecclestone says he did pay Gribkowsky the money, but only because he was worried the bank executive would tell the Inland Revenue that Ecclestone was really in charge of an offshore family trust called Bambino, which is controlled by his wife Slavika.

Ecclestone says that allegation is false, but it would have sparked an expensive tax investigation. Gribkowsky denies blackmailing Ecclestone, saying the fees he received were for legitimate consultancy. The court also heard that Gribkowsy had authorised the payment of £26 million to Ecclestone as commission for easing the F1 sale – a payment that was totally above board.

Pakistani cricket scandal

It's yet another tale which is causing many to question how much sport remains sport. This year we've seen three Pakistani cricket internationals jailed for spot-fixing, something which shook the sport even more than the revelations of match-fixing 11 years ago by South Africa captain Hansie Cronje.

In 2006, Italian football giants Juventus were stripped of two league titles and relegated from the top division after taped conversations of club officials influencing referees were released. AC Milan and Fiorentina also had points deductions imposed as the investigation unveiled more corruption.

In Turkey, an ongoing investigation into match fixing, bribery, corruption, extortion and intimidation in football has seen 61 people arrested and put the results of at least 19 matches under the spotlight. Fenerbahçe, the club at the heart of the scandal, has been banned from playing in the Champions League.

In England, despite whispers over the years, there's no evidence of serious corruption of the sort that has disfigured football in Italy and Turkey. But with vast amounts of money at stake, and greater profits to be made, the temptation is surely there.

Ben Johnson

What does all this do for sport, and our enjoyment of sport? For sport to really work, spectators have to believe that what they are seeing is fair competition. Otherwise the spectacle is spoiled. It took me years to enjoy athletics again after watching Ben Johnson's amazing 9.79 second gold medal-winning 100m victory at the 1988 Olympics, only to find that his performance was aided by steroids.

Sport is certainly a business now and, at root, there's a fundamental clash between successful business and successful sport. In business, you need to guarantee success as much as possible. In sport, the more success is guaranteed, the less sporting the spectacle becomes. We have to believe we are watching real competition.

That's why sport is increasingly covered as entertainment, the thing itself becoming secondary to the narrative of character and confected controversy. Writing in the latest issue of football journal The Blizzard, Telegraph journalist Rob Smith refers to the headlines the morning after Barcelona's exceptional Champions League victory last year.

They were all about Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger complaining that striker Robin van Persi had been sent off. "The beauty of Barcelona was relegated to second billing behind the whisper of illusory controversy," he says. The sport has become secondary to the story.

Football bubble

While I don't see much evidence of the pull of sport diminishing seriously just yet, and certainly not of the long-predicted bursting of the football bubble, there is an underlying worry that sport is not what is was or what it could be. It is a great money-spinner because of the passion and affection it inspires, and there is some evidence that passion and affection are being tested by what sport is becoming.

Perhaps ironically, it was the founding father of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre du Coubertain, who turned the phrase that is at the heart of people's affection for sport. He said "the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not the winning, but the taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well."

That concept of fair play and honest effort is central to sport's attraction, and to why businesses want to be associated with sport. As sports turn themselves every more into businesses, they need to retain the ability to strike a balance between business and sporting values. Otherwise the whole house comes tumbling down.

Marathon Runner Catches The Bus To The Finish Line!!!

This is one you have to put in the "Is this for real" category!!

Rob Sloan claimed third place in the Kielder Marathon after completing the 26.2 mile course in an impressive time of 2:51:00.

But suspicions were raised by fellow runners bemused that they had not seen Sloan pass them during Sunday’s race.

After initially denying any wrongdoing, Sloan admitted to hopping onto a bus at the 20-mile mark because he was feeling tired. He then re-emerged from a wooded area of the course and picked up the bronze medal.

Witnesses reported seeing him hide behind a tree until the first and second placed runners went past, then rejoining the race behind them.

The 31-year-old now faces dismissal from his club, Sunderland Harriers, and could be banned from taking part in future marathons.
Steve Cram, the former world record holder and organiser of the race in Kielder Water, Northumberland, said: “He was the only runner in the whole of the race who ran the second half quicker than the first half.”
Sloan, a former Army mechanic from Downhill, Sunderland, was seen boasting to reporters minutes after completing the event. He described the race as “absolutely, unbelievably tough”.
When his placing was brought into doubt, he was indignant.
“I’m upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. It’s laughable, is what it is,” he insisted.
However, after organisers launched an investigation, he confessed to hitching a ride.
The bus was one of 12 laid on to ferry spectators around the lakeside course, which has been dubbed “Britain’s most beautiful marathon”.
A statement from the organisers said: “The athlete who was disqualified on Sunday after initially placing third has admitted that he failed to complete the whole course of 26.2 miles.
“Rob Sloan of Sunderland Harriers had apparently made the decision to withdraw from the race at approximately 20 miles due to fatigue and after returning to the Leaplish Park area he decided to run the closing section of the course and crossed the finish line in third place.
“This was rightly questioned by several witnesses including the rightful third place finisher, Steven Cairns of Peebles, Scotland, who has been awarded the prize.”
Sloan won a 10k race on Saturday and that result appears to hold firm.
He joined Sunderland Harriers a few months ago. Ann Lillie, club treasurer and vice-president, said: “It’s a bit of a shock. We have a good reputation and obviously this has brought the club into disrepute.
“It’s not the kind of advertising we need. We’ll be discussing Rob’s future when the executive committee meets next week.”
The runner later awarded the bronze medal, Steven Cairns, was one of those who shared their suspicions with organisers.
Writing on Facebook, he said: “I was third the whole way but somehow I crossed the line and was given fourth! He has stolen my glory and my moment on the podium.
“I started to doubt myself as he was adamant he had gone past me. I could understand him taking the goody bag and the t-shirt but to do the press interview claiming he was third…”
In 2009, Anthony Gaskell, 69, became the fastest pensioner to run the London Marathon when he finished in a record three hours and five minutes.
However, it emerged later that he took a short cut that knocked 10 miles off the course and his name was removed from the results.