Celebration or Mockery?

[Ron Mexico]

I was watching NFL Replay last night with the Steelers/Falcons game from last year. Hines Ward - considered not only an all-pro but a absolute professional by many - does his version of "The Dirty Bird" after Pitt's first TD. I've seen him mock most teams after scoring, and I gotta say I don't like it. While I'm sure some will say it is just part of the game and fun, I think it goes completely against what we try to teach our children concerning sportsmanship. I also think it is completely unoriginal. I like celebrations that are original - those are fun to watch. I also like classy celebrations like the "Mile High Salute" - the absolute best in football.

[Popps]

Fair enough.

[RhymesayersDU]

I find it funny that a guy with the username "Ron Mexico" is going crack on somebody else for mockery.

[Jason in LA]

Ward did the Icky Shuffle when they played Cincy.

The Pats got away with mocking the Eagles during the Super Bowl. They were doing that Eagle dance (flapping their arms) all game long. Because people always say they are a class organization, nobody mentioned how they were mocking the Eagles.

I remember a Chargers safety blasting Terrell Davis out of bounds. He knocked the crap out of TD, sent him damn near under the bench. The safety then does the Mile High Salute to TD. The funny thing was that TD gained 10 yards on the play. Made the Charger player look pretty stupid.

[Man-Goblin]

I usually don't like that kinda stuff, but I gotta say I very much enjoyed Portis and Sharpe mocking Priest Holmes' arm stretch thing in the 'Dante Hall Clip" game.

[BlaK-Argentina]

I remember a Chargers safety blasting Terrell Davis out of bounds. He knocked the crap out of TD, sent him damn near under the bench. The safety then does the Mile High Salute to TD. The funny thing was that TD gained 10 yards on the play. Made the Charger player look pretty stupid.

Kind of like Houshwhatever looked after the missed PAT last season.

[sonsofkraftybob]

I think taunting is as much part of the game as tackling.

You can't expect 22 players to carry on a quote unquote "war" and not talk some sh!t here and there.

The best was the Charger Tight End who did the Hawaiian thing where he ripped the top off the football and drank it...can't remember his name, but I remember his gig.

[cousinal11]

As much as I hate TO, him mocking Ray Lewis a couple years ago was funny to me. I don't care too much for Ray Ray either.

[cabronco]

Kind of like Houshwhatever looked after the missed PAT last season.

LOL Ya I caught that too. What an idiot.

[Jason in LA]

Kind of like Houshwhatever looked after the missed PAT last season.


Is there a video of that?

[bronco militia]

the broncos mocked chief fans with the tomahawk chop after punking their lame asses in the 1997 14-10 playoff win.

the broncos also mocked steeler fans with their own terrible towels after punking the steelers at home in the 1997 afc champ game....hell, romo even got into the act by slapping his forhead"DOH" after kordel tossed yet another pick.

get over it

[BroncoFanatic]

I was watching NFL Replay last night with the Steelers/Falcons game from last year. Hines Ward - considered not only an all-pro but a absolute professional by many - does his version of "The Dirty Bird" after Pitt's first TD. I've seen him mock most teams after scoring, and I gotta say I don't like it. While I'm sure some will say it is just part of the game and fun, I think it goes completely against what we try to teach our children concerning sportsmanship. I also think it is completely unoriginal. I like celebrations that are original - those are fun to watch. I also like classy celebrations like the "Mile High Salute" - the absolute best in football.

I'll jump in and agree with you on this. When players start mocking the other team, it's just classless and lacking in sportsmanship. Celebrations are fine within the boundries of good sportsmanship, but kicking the other guy while they are down is just lowlife behavior.

[azbroncfan]

What's not to like about it? If the other team does it then it is fair game. If other teams have a problem with celebrations then they shouldn't celebrate themselves or allow the other team to score. People are getting too thin skinned these days and always looking for something to complain about.

[boltaneer]

The best was the Charger Tight End who did the Hawaiian thing where he ripped the top off the football and drank it...can't remember his name, but I remember his gig.

Alfred Pupunu! I loved that guy! ;D

[ColoradoDarin]

What's not to like about it? If the other team does it then it is fair game. If other teams have a problem with celebrations then they shouldn't celebrate themselves or allow the other team to score. People are getting too thin skinned these days and always looking for something to complain about.

Quoted for the truth.

This is like all those Chugger fans that were upset when the Pats mocked the roid-spasm dance of Merriman.

[NaptownChief]

As much as I hate TO, him mocking Ray Lewis a couple years ago was funny to me. I don't care too much for Ray Ray either.



That was my favorite also...closely followed by TO spiking the ball on the Dallas star back in the day.

I don't like TO but I still have a soft spot in my heart for him after mocking two of the things I disliked the most in football(Ray Lewis and the Cowboys under Jimmy Johnson).

[BlaK-Argentina]

Is there a video of that?

I don't think so, but the guy who uploaded all those plays from the Bengals game should be able to make one.

[Popcorn Sutton]

The Steelers do this every game and it seems to get under the other teams skin. Maybe they are on to something... Seriously... not really all that classy but not really a big deal either.

[BroncoFiend]

I find it funny that a guy with the username "Ron Mexico" is going crack on somebody else for mockery.

I was about to applaud him, but your comment is just too funny. Nice observation LOL

[Hogan11]

I was about to applaud him, but your comment is just too funny. Nice observation LOL

The initial post was probably done as a goof, but the point is valid nonetheless. Just say no to Flavor Clowns.

[boltaneer]

Quoted for the truth.

This is like all those Chugger fans that were upset when the Pats mocked the roid-spasm dance of Merriman.

Wrong.

There were a several players who did the Merriman dance during games against the Chargers earlier in the year. I don't know anyone who got upset over that. I actually found that interesting that players would actually go through the trouble of trying to show up Merriman.

Charger fans were upset that those Patriot players were dancing on the logo, a la TO posing on the Dallas Star and immediately when the game concluded, as most other players from both teams were shaking hands and showing good sportsmanship towards each other. It wouldn't have mattered if it was a Merriman dance, a chicken dance or whatever dance you can think of.

I'm not a big fan of the touchdown dances or sack dances but it's all during the competition and is no different than trash talking. It's all a psychological ploy to try to get into the other guys head during the heat of battle. But when the game ends, it's over and the better man shows respect to his opponent, win or lose.

When I beat someone in any form of competition, whether it be a video game, tennis or whatever, I don't immediately start dancing and mocking the other guy. And you almost never see that happen in any professional sport. How disrespectful can one be?

I still to this day applaud LT for standing up for his teammates, his team and his city. People can badmouth him for doing that but some of us know that he did the right thing.

[TotallyScrewed]

I'm not a fan of the taunting either BUT it was funny as hell watching Shannon get into the head of the Chiefs LB...that was messed up!! Who was that guy? Didn't he get two or three personal fouls before they (the chiefs) pulled his arse?

[Northman]

the broncos mocked chief fans with the tomahawk chop after punking their lame asses in the 1997 14-10 playoff win.

the broncos also mocked steeler fans with their own terrible towels after punking the steelers at home in the 1997 afc champ game....hell, romo even got into the act by slapping his forhead"DOH" after kordel tossed yet another pick.

get over it



Exactly.

[Blueflame]

I'm not a fan of the taunting either BUT it was funny as hell watching Shannon get into the head of the Chiefs LB...that was messed up!! Who was that guy? Didn't he get two or three personal fouls before they (the chiefs) pulled his arse?

That was Derrick Thomas...

[Ron Mexico]

I find it funny that a guy with the username "Ron Mexico" is going crack on somebody else for mockery.

Point taken.

BUT my children aren't reading this message board and the nickname Ron Mexico wasn't earned from any on the field behavior. Not a fan of Vick, and it is not only fun but also human nature to pick on others while they are down. That said, I picked this name a couple of years ago and wouldn't choose it in hindsight.

And back to the main discusssion... I don't feel like there is anything to "get over" as a few posts have said. "In Your Face" taunts and celebrations are just too tempting for them to ever be avoided, and I know they will always exist - penalized or not. When I was younger, I probably would have sided with the "they add to the game" or the "they are part of the game" or even the "get over it" responses. I can't help but like some of the taunts mentioned throughout this post, too. Some of those make you feel like they got what they deserved. Nevertheless, now that I am a father, I realize it simply goes against the sportsmanship that many of us are trying to teach our kids. And that makes it hard for me to watch a game with my sons and cheer for anyone that goes against what I am teaching them. Again, I am proud to be a Broncos fan and think the Mile High Salute is the best celebration in football. That's one to be proud of and a tradition to carry on.

[BroncsRule]

"the Mile High Salute is the best celebration in football."

Totally agree.. Unfortunately Mike Bell is the only one still doing it, as an omage to TD.

Makes me root for Bell.