What the Refs DON'T See

Every sport has rules, and for the most part, the refs make sure they are all followed to the "T."

But what about what the refs do NOT see?

Whatever goes in at that point in time is entirely based on how strongly the player wants to win.

Is there any reason for him to hold anything back? Nope.

His humanity? That was out like a fat kid playing dodge ball.

So. . . are the kids at recess misled by thinking that "It's just a game!"

George Orwell chewed up that theory and spit it out when he referred to "sports" as being "bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence. It is WAR minus the shooting."

Sorry kids, but tomorrow when you go out and play kickball don't worry about the teams being fair. Oh, and don't bother keeping score. The team that has A (single, one, uno) player not in the hospital at the end of recess wins the game.

I think we can rest assured that those who are involved in the playful art of water-kickhiminthefa ce-polo know how the sport is "supposed" to be played.

So how violent is "violent?"

What I am NOT talking about:
1.) Ouchies, I just got slapped.
2.) Hey! Don't shove me!
3.) Wedgy-time!
4.) I just got spit in my eye!

(let's leave the pre-mentioned to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.)

What I AM talking about:
1.) Wow, so that's what a kidney looks like!
2.) So... has anybody seen my left eye?
3.) Thanks. I didn't need that arm because I have another one.
4.) Where do I get my free t-shirt for donating 3 gallons of blood?

In a recent article by Pat Forde, he helps us to understand the level of violence in water-polo: "Think of the most physical post-play in basketball, then multiply it to the verge of assault and battery."

The center for the US team this Olympics, Ryan Bailey, gives us a player's perspective.

"You have to be a con man, using every trick -- and body part -- at your disposal. If you've taken a cheap shot, you might try to subtly deliver an elbow to the nose while swimming to the other end. If you get a chance to grab an opponent's hand, try to break a finger -- especially a thumb. That reduces his ability to catch, pass or shoot the ball."

Ok good, because the old days of sneaking into the locker-room and stealing the other teams playbook obviously wasn't working out so hot.

But just you wait until things get really bad...

"When it gets bad is when people try to take the eyes out. That wakes you up, when someone does that to one of your teammates. Then, when you get your chance, you take your shot and send that guy to the hospital, too." (asst Coach Robert Lynn).

What was that ugly 7 year old girl (hey it wasn't me who decided she was ugly!) singing about in the Olympics? Was it perhaps the revolution of the world together as a whole?

By the way, that brings up a separate issue. What if the US didn't allow ugly athletes to compete in the Olympics? We would have half of the swimming gold medals we have now (thanks Michael) and Misty May would be setting the ball to herself! And let's not even get into the women's shot-put...

Ok, back to the gentlemen's sport of water-polo...

Perhaps it's just a trend.

The games of older civilizations used to involve wild animals that would kill a man if they touched him, and the winner was usually that one person or team who remained alive.

Then in the 1700-1800s, sporting events became very formal (as still seen in today's equestrian competitions). Women would race the 100 meter dash while wearing full-length dresses.

Now, obviously the appropriateness level has gone down, but other than that... has the barbarian level of sporting events increased?

I insist, rather, that after 4 vigorous years of training, would you really settle for anything other than victory?

The question remains to be seen, at what level is that passion going to be taken to?

A good reason to be a Whina' in China

You are Milorad Cavic.

You are representing the country of Serbia and Montenegro.

Your only event this 2008 Summer Olympics is the 100m fly.

You take off and gain a large lead over the rest of the field halfway through the race as Michael Phelps reaches that distance in 7th.

You come into the final wall still holding a good lead.

You coast into the wall with the realization that you just topped Michael Phelps for the gold when you look up to the big screen to see that you were out-touched. You somehow lost to Phelps by the smallest margin possible (.01 seconds).

You are Nastia Liukin.

You are competing in women's (I don't know if you can call a 14 year old Chinese "kid" a woman) gymnastics.

You just finished your uneven bar routine. You had a couple slip-ups, but still have a solid score of 16.725.

Controversy strikes when China's "woman" gymnast He Kexin, who had a few MORE slip-ups also receives a 16.725. But that's not the controversy...

So now the judges have 2 scores of 16.725. Hmmm. Oh what the heck, give the gold to the Chinese girl. The reason? Her score was "more perfect."

I think that a score that goes to the THOUSANDTH of a point is pretty specific, and if they both got the same score, how could one be "more perfect" than the other?

Perfect opportunity to whine, right?

Maybe I was the only one who did.

The fact of the matter is that I was debating how Cavic was going to reject that silver medal. Maybe he will rip it off his neck, throw it on the ground and stomp on it. Or perhaps he'd climb up the torch and throw it in the scorching fire?

No... Cavic was grinning from ear to ear after receiving that silver medal.

And Liukin? She didn't bow her head and cry. She used the loss to motivate her for her next competition.

So you see, there are no whina's in China. At least not on the from Cavic and Liukin...

Intro of myself to the ever-popular blogspot

Basically I was looking for a place where I could talk about sports. Maybe not just sports... perhaps other random acts of life as well. I do like humor... and maybe some info I read regarding businesses (since I'm a business-Marketing Management major) I think I'm supposed to be into that sort of thing anyway. In fact I kind of am. I guess a person who doesn't have any appreciation for the business world might question how I could enjoy reading from Fortune Mag. and Consumer Reports the same way that I question how my old roommate who majored in Culinary Arts could read about the "101 Ways to Combine a Carrot and Celery." I guess the obvious is true... different people enjoy completely different things. I guess the bottom line is that some of you are going to enjoy reading my blog and others would rather be on step 67- Firmly mash into a green-orange pulp. But hey, if that's your thing...