Scenario 1: What an intense game this has turned out to be. A team scored its respective goal back in the 10-20-minute marker of the game, and both teams have left us in a rousing state of goalless suspense for the past 70 minutes.
The score is 1-0, and this has been the most exciting soccer match I have ever been to — just as all high-scoring, fast-paced and not-boring 1-0 games are. The match has really come down to the wire, and I am hoping for a definite game-tying goal from the soccer team I am currently supporting in this make-believe situation I am using to illustrate my opening point.
The 90th minute has passed, and we are taken to the three exciting minutes of the match. Stoppage time! I can’t wait to see what tricks my team has up its sleeves to tie the game at 1-1.
The team I want to succeed — Green Soccer Team — quickly runs up the field to the opposing goal of Purple Soccer Team. Green Soccer Team Midfielder comes over to help out Green Soccer Team Forward — but no! Purple Soccer Team Defender has fallen down after his feet neared those of Green Soccer Team Midfielder! And it looks very bad indeed. Purple Soccer Team Defender appears to be writhing in pain as he awaits for what is certain to be his imminent death. Nothing can seem to help him stop his screaming and lying down on the field as time ticks away. Does he not realize that time is almost up? Surely Purple Soccer Team Defender does not understand that, as time is wasted and live play is delayed for his rest, Green Soccer Team’s chances to tie the game are shrinking. If only he could see this.
Scenario 2: San Antonio Spurs’ shooting guard Manu Ginobili falls down a lot, and the Utah Jazz lose.
The NBA recently announced that it would be applying an anti-flopping rule this upcoming season.
The National Basketball Association has seen an increase over the past decade or so of “flopping” players. A “flop” refers to the situation of a player physically overreacting to contact given him from an opposing player in an effort to receive the attention and possible foul called toward the other team for his advantage.
In an effort to rid the league of such floppers, the anti-flopping rule was recently instituted with mixed reactions from coaches, players and fans. The consequences include a warning on a first flopping offense and a subsequent $5,000 fine for each continual violation of the rule. A player can receive a total of six violations with a $30,000 total of fines. Once a seventh offense is committed, the player can face a possible suspension from the league.
“Why be so fussy about a silly game?” you ask.
Because it need be fussed over.
In a sporting world where one takes pride in his or her physical condition and abilities as well as those of one’s team, it is disappointing to see athletes take advantage of an opportunity that allows them to “put on a show” to gain a competitive benefit over their opponents.
While many athletes have turned from sports to high-quality acting (Jim Brown as a dirty dozen in The Dirty Dozen; Michael Jordon as himself in Space Jam; Shaquille O’Neal as a big genie in Kazaam), they were kind enough to separate the two.
Flopping during competition deserves negative consequences. Athletes are adored by many across the world, including the youth. When they choose to sell a moment of contact, it’s teaching others that they can do the same in order to have an advantage during the game.
Surely there are many players throughout the NBA who are upset with the newly added rule. But they can pass up their second talent in order to pursue their first and graduate from college with a performing arts degree. I would love to see them here at Weber State. Especially you, Manu Ginobili.
