It's Superbowl time and everybody is fired up about the finale to a season chock-full of wild, team holdout, upright-doinking, high-scoring, miracle walk-off executing, record-breaking, drama. If you've been watching, you've truly seen it all this year. Right now, the question is which of the conference final participants will advance to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the final battle. All four promise to make for a very exciting contest between the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and the Los Angels Rams.
Now, while we're talking about sports, I can't think of a single fan or casual sports viewer that will watch a contest between two teams without finding something that gets their "goat" (no Brady pun intended). Whether you're in stadium stands, arena seats, high school bleachers or sitting with friends at a bar or at home, there's always something that's going to rub you the wrong way: a play decision, a ref's call, a blowout, noisy fan, etc. You name it. Always something...
In fact, some people let anything get to them and they're quick to voice it to anyone within earshot (who will listen). Some will take to social media while others just keep it to themselves and sigh while shaking their head. Everybody's different. But there's allllllways something...
God, if only we could... ...just... Never mind.
Let's get it poppin' because I know you can relate to some of the following...
Please note that I said, "PEOPLE IN sports" because this is about the nutjobs in and out of the sports world and not the competitive activities, themselves. And of course, these are my own opinions.
10 Things I Hate About (People In) Sports
(in no specific order)
- "GOAT" arguments. How many people do you know on Facebook or Twitter that have dedicated hours and essays to support their argument on Jordan vs James? I even know someone who got into a physical altercation as a result of discussion on this topic.
Why is this so important to you? There is no one who is truly qualified to make a proper assessment because outside of stats and rings, you really have no way of truly knowing.
Whether it's an NBA player, a quarterback, running back or whatever, most of the athletes in question played during entirely different eras, with different teammates, against different opponents, under different circumstances and quite possibly with slightly different rules. Apples to oranges.
Me personally? I LOVE Michael Jordan. He led my Chicago Bulls to 6 titles in 8 years! Who does that? In my opinion, he did things under scenarios that will ALWAYS make him the GOAT. Are you old enough to remember the "Flu Game" during the 1997 NBA Finals? Dehydrated, exhausted and struggling with flu-like symptoms, MJ dropped 38 points to lead his team to victory during the pivotal Game 5 against the Utah Jazz. Watching him lean on teammate Scottie Pippen as he fought to the sidelines during a time-out was epic.
I don't think LeBron is better, but for what it's worth, he's definitely the best in the game. However, there are many who will argue that point until they're Cleveland Cavalier-blue in the face. One of the more interesting arguments from LeBron-haters is that he entered the league sooner, by-passing the NCAA, on his quest to some of his Jordan-edging statistics.
On a final side note, no matter what you all decide, it won't change what I saw and the joy I experienced with each championship. So honestly, I don't care. We got ours. - Kids (and uninterested significant others) at NBA Games. Every time I see a close-up of children, sleeping in the front rows of NBA games I wanna throw my wings (won't happen though) at the screen. I'm a broke-*ss fan who can't get front row seats to save my life. I can't and probably never will afford them.
I'm not hating, but why are you throwing it in our faces by bringing kids who don't even know what a basketball IS? Same goes for these strings of 3 or 4 ladies (not singling out the women at all, but it's what you see more often than not) sitting together who have zero interest in the game. They're so often seen behind the team, spending the entire time talking, taking selfies and reading social media updates, flaunting their designer jewelry. They clearly don't want to be there. There just want to be SEEN there. But hey, do what you want. No rules apply. *sigh*
Anyway, since I can't afford to pay attention, who am I to say who you should and shouldn't buy tickets for? (But if you want a cheer-buddy, buy ME a ticket and I'LL be your escort for the game! At least we'll cheer together! And I don't look TOO bad in make-up.) - Parent Managers. Parents! OMG!!! The odds of your child making it to the pros are astronomical! How many of the 10-30 kids on on your Pee-Wee league team go on to play in high school? How many high school athletes get scholarships? And consider this: Fewer than 2% of NCAA student-athletes go on to be professional athletes. So why are you losing your mind if the coach plays your child less than 100% of the time?
Nobody desires to pay for league membership, uniform costs and post-game snacks just to see their child on the sidelines, but everybody needs some playing time. Some play better than others and will be utilized in key situations, but that's how the game is managed. We know you love your kids, but let them enjoy the game and stop putting so much pressure on them. Give them the tools and support they need, but let them decide what THEY want to do.
As a former coach, sadly, I've had to ask abusive parents to leave games and sometimes, the team. Watching kids being screamed at excessively is incredibly heartbreaking. Makes you wonder what goes on at home, especially when I see an embarrassed and crying wife trying to calm a man down. And the drama I've seen between divorcées and co-parents, wow. Look dads, LAY OFF. You want to know why they burn out and don't want to return next year? YOU! - Fighting in the stands. Drunk, obscene fans who yell in your ear or spill beer on your shoulders. A parent, talking negatively about a player on the field, not knowing that they're sitting next to his/her parents. Rivals, seated next to one-another. The person in front of you refusing to sit down. Someone spotting their ex with that new person. Someone confronting a classmate about something they said in school. Someone eyeing someone else's significant other obnoxiously. A racist comment blurted out by an ignorant enthusiast. Trash-talking out of hand. I don't care what the reason, I think it's ridiculous. If you can't govern your own mouth and activity or know when to ignore someone or leave people alone, you need to be somewhere else. I came to watch the fight on the field, not three rows beneath me. And don't let me get started on the gang activity and possession of weapons.
- Fans/Parents assaulting officials and coaches. While we're on the subject of violence, I've seen some of the craziest attacks on officials and coaches imaginable. Back before people had the ability to record events with their phones and upload them to Youtube, it was all about the video camera. I was recording a game that soon became a jaw-dropping melee after a young basketball player's father walked out onto the court and began arguing with the ref. Before we knew it, he caught the ref with a right cross annnnd off into the stands they tumbled. The fight soon expanded, involving moms, staff, players... It was awful. I never posted it, but I still have it.
Anyone remember the case where the little league player's father confronted the coach after the game, which resulted in him killing the coach in anger, in front of horrified children?
And I will NEVER forget the 2013 tragedy in Brazil when the referee stabbed and killed a player, only to be mobbed by spectators, stoned to death and Dear God, QUARTERED??? You cut his HEAD off and put it on a stake in the middle of the field?!?!? What is this? Soccer or Mortal Kombat 11?
Lord, it ain't that serious, people.
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