Stop the showboating
Maybe it's me and my old-school upbringing coming to the surface, but nothing has become more annoying in sports over the past several years than the constant showboating among athletes without any respect for the game, their opponents or themselves.
Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson made a complete fool of himself Monday night after catching a 60-yard pass and flipping the ball behind him before reaching the goal line. What should have been an easy touchdown against the Cowboys turned into a fumble. The Eagles scored on the next play, but it was one of the NFL's all-time brainless blunders.
To make matters worse, it also cost me a win in my fantasy league.
But what was he thinking?
I understand that showboating is nothing new. I remember former Cowboys receiver Drew Pearson spraining his knee after jumping for style points while spiking the ball. Every kid in the neighborhood imitated Oilers return man Billy "White Shoes" Johnson. But at least they scored before they celebrated.
Nowadays, you see cornerbacks throw a party after making a tackle after a 20-yard gain with their teams trailing by three touchdowns. Peerless Price for years made a scene every time he caught a pass no matter the gain or the score. Jeremy Shockey catches a 4-yard slant, gets drilled over the middle and reacts like he won the lottery.
It's one reason I always liked Thurman Thomas. When he scored, he handed the ball to the official and jogged back to the sideline. He acted like someone who had been in the end zone before and would be back again. And rather than turn my head away from the TV in disgust, I actually paid closer attention to him.
--- Bucky Gleason
