100-0 : Your thoughts?

[Robert D Taylor Jr]

Lackluster? I responded with the charm,grace, and enthusiasm you deserved. Socialist? another one for the giggle pool. Have a good one doode.

[John Casey]

Originally Posted by Robert D Taylor Jr

John, no amount of football stories could build an ethos in my world, sorry. I'm glad you were impressed with Kevin's resume. Peace be upon you too.

First, I would like to point out how comical this all is; so many of us are getting fired up about a HS girls' basketball game that, all things considered, we actually have nothing invested in. Type-A anyone?

Robert, I accept I cannot build ethos with you. As a rhetorical tool, however, I think my minor attempt at building a touch of ethos was effective. Had I simply chimed in with an opinion, it would've left the door wide open for you or anyone else to challenge my background and experiences on which to base it. If I wasn't a lifelong athlete (let's not get into that one again...), and had simply played T-ball or such, my argument would be quite feeble. Because this is a discussion board, I see no point in fully developing an argument with complete use of the rhetorical triangle for a single post.

You haven't personally affronted me--just disagreed; and that's what a discussion is about; however, I agree with the others in that all of the personal attacks, from every direction, need to stop. Disagreements are Personal sniping is not.

[Giles Clarke]

Ding…ding…ding…fighters to your corners, gentlemen,
None of us on here were at the game, so we cannot speak with total authority on the matter. If the coach of the winning team kept his 1st string players in the full game, merely for the benefit of running the score up, then he was wrong. If he was antagonizing the other team and encouraging his team to be disrespectful, then he was wrong. But, if he was rotating in his reserve players and the other team still could not score, that is not his fault. If he was encouraging good sportsmanship and fair play the entire time, then he did the right thing.
Telling his team to “take it easy” on another team is not what he is being paid to do. Doing so would have been more patronizing and insulting than a 100-0 score. He is not at fault that there is no mercy rule in girl’s high school basketball, nor should he be forced to apologize for the skill and hard work of his team.
Getting children involved in sports at a young age develops the obvious physical benefits, but there are also the (I would argue) more important social and emotional benefits. Children involved in sports learn to work on a team and socialize with their peers. Sure, they will fight and argue amongst themselves, but ultimately come together in pursuit of a common goal. Athletics also teaches children how to deal with defeat and disappointment. It teaches the harsh reality that sometimes your best just will not be good enough, but that does not give you an excuse to just stop trying. It sounds harsh and cynical to teach something like that to children, but the ones who learn it will not let every little setback overcome them and generally become more well-adjusted and successful individuals.
As long as the winning team played fairly and with dignity, they should be proud of their 100 point victory. As long as the losing team continued to compete to the best of their ability until the final buzzer sounded, then they should be proud of their accomplishments on the court. Calling the game early or having the winning team play below their potential does neither side any good and defeats the main purpose of having children involved in sports.

[Michael McLellan]

Not everyone deserves a trophy all the time; you win some, you lose some. Defeats are just as important as wins.

Also, this is high school sports, not little kids. If you've ever been involved in high school sports, it is serious and competitive. High schoolers are past the age of being babied (I really don't think 'trophies and ribbons for everyone' is beneficial at any age, but that's a different argument). If you're a player, you know the game and the consequences.

Mercy rules are made to prevent this type of thing and I don't know why they didn't have one. To end the game when it's obvious who is clearly the better team, but not embarrass the losing side for an hour and a half when it's not necessary. Never did I have anything but respect for the small schools that we beat up on in soccer and called the game early from the score being run up. They never quit and our coach yelled at us for any time we weren't out there playing our best game. If you go out there and give poor effort and win, that's embarrassing for both sides. Otherwise it's just playing the game.

[Joshua Murphy]

So I go to bed early and this is what you guys do?

[Lynne Pitts]

Kevin
Time for a time out. While you are taking it, please read the site rules, and more of this board, so that maybe you'll gain a better understanding of the culture of this community.