Men of Steel or Athletes of Glass?
Written by Luke, Saturday May 09 2009
Growing up one of the more successful teams I recall watching made NBA games strongly resemble street fights. Many times I’d watch Bill Laimbeer work his legendary elbows and at the time think that all I was seeing was a dirty player, with no strategy in mind. Later in life, I developed an understanding and appreciation for a well placed elbow, or a well timed foul and understand the intimidation players like Laimbeer were able to create and use to their advantage. Over the years however, us fans have watched the game evolve before our eyes, and not just the NBA but all sports.
As the end of each NFL season passes and the annual owner’s meetings approach one can’t help but speculate exactly what new rules might be created. This year we saw the introduction of the “Brady Rule”, which to my understanding basically means that a defensive player who is on the ground may not lunge at the opposing quarterback. This year’s playoffs in the NBA have seen a great deal of controversy surrounding the use of flagrant fouls-which as opposed to in the days of their invention now come in many different forms and may or may not result in ejection or even suspension in future games. Moving on, the MLB and NHL are left out of this conversation due to the lack of contact in the MLB and a lack of overall interest in hockey (you remember, that sport that used to be popular before a strike caused their fan base to dwindle down to the point that the NHL no longer has a national television contract-but that’s a whole different story).
Now despite the rule changes for now the NFL is still considered a contact sport, but how long can this last? Where has this attitude developed from that not only are athletes untouchable, but they are also made of glass and must be handled with care both by their coaches and opposing players? I mean now you can’t lunge at a QB if you’re in a certain position, what’s next we bring the red jerseys from practice out to the real games and play two hand touch with 1 player on the field while the rest continue to play the game as it was meant to be played? The kid gloves used around QB’s has already hurt the game in my opinion, as I’ve seen several occasions when QB’s were moving around the pocket, someone wrapped them up and as they were in the process of breaking out and throwing the ball down the field (or at least dumping it to a back in the flats) they were called down and the play was blown dead. Before our very eyes we’re watching the game develop into a league where the only plays we won’t see a flag on are those plays during which noone is touched. Speed and strength will no longer matter because the guys in the white and black striped shirts will be there to protect you.
Now I wasn’t aware that this fad had found it’s way to the courts of the NBA as well until tuning into these playoffs and hearing the announcers debate as to whether or not every single foul should be considered flagrant. It’s gotten to the point that it was discussed whether or not Vujacic would be called for a flagrant foul after Von Wafer threw himself into the Laker forward while attempting a three. What was even worse was later on in the fourth quarter, when with 43 seconds left in the game Ron Artest was called for a flagrant foul and ejected after fouling Pau Gasol on a breakaway drive to the basket. Asked directly after the game Gasol’s own teammate Kobe Bryant said “that wasn’t flagrant, then again I’m a child of the 80’s. To me, just shoot two and get going”.
While it’s well documented that I’m not the biggest
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