NCAA

 

              I know why the NCAA basketball tournament is called March Madness. It’s because it really upsets me. In other words, I am teed off. Why? Thanks, for asking. With 64 teams to watch – at least at the beginning – it’s really a trial for a basketball junkie like me, who has been watching (and playing) hoops since 1950.

     So what’s your problem, big fella?

      I am sick of showboating.  If I see one more 9-foot center  scream after jumping one inch to dunk a ball, I am going to scr…, I mean, switch channels.  Let me count the ways showboating occurs:

1.                   Doubling fists and screaming after some mundane play.

2.                   Bumping chests with half of your team and sometimes even the opponents.

3.                   Grinning and wagging an index finger and shouting, “We’re No. 1.”

4.                   Sweeping downcourt like an airplane after an unchallenged slam dunk.

5.                   Blowing on your index finger like you’re a hot gunslinger after making an uncontested 3-pointer.

6.                   Bashing forearms – for five minutes.

7.                   Gesturing wildly and rolling your eyes at a ref after you foul practically chop off a guy’s arm trying to steal the ball.

8.                   The entire five guys on the floor lining up and kicking their legs like a chorus line. (I only saw this once.)

9.                   Swaggering and making eyes following your third three-pointer  – of the season.

10.               A player victoriously paddling another on the rear all the way to the bench while pointing at the other  team, following a standard assist.

11.               Pulling out your jersey and pounding your chest.

12.               Finally, my favorite actually involves the fans. The entire college student body stands up and jumps up and down like pogo sticks almost the entire game. Imagine how lucky you are to sit beside them and try to watch the game or even better, behind them.

     What’s sports coming to ? This does not only occur in college and professional games, but also on the kids’ biddy teams  What happened to the days when we taught kids sportsmanship and cool. You imagine if Wilt Chamberlin screamed or taunted the opposition every time he pulled down a rebound, blocked a shot or made a basket? He’d be worn out in the first five minutes.

     The reason we old guys didn’t jump up and down and scream all over the court following a basket is not because we were not enjoying  ourselves or were not proud of our accomplishments.  The reason was one word: respect.  Respect for our opponents, respect for ourselves and respect for the game.

   Why do you want to put down the other team? That’s what you are doing. What kind of game would you have without opponents?  Do you see Tim Duncan or Steve Nash screaming and jumping up and down?  Hearty well done is about the most you get out of them. They expect to play well.   The game is meant to be played for fun, competition  -  and respect.

  I would suggest that you or any player watch on You Tube the 6o-foot shot that Jerry West made in the 1970 finals against the New York Knicks. If there had been a 3-point shot, it would have won the game, but it tied it with no time on the clock. Now that was worthy of a celebration, but what did Jerry do? He looked up at the scoreboard as he walked off the floor with somebody wringing his hand another throwing an arm around his shoulders.  He had done it before.

     Mr. Cool. Respect all around.

   Don Lechman, a former Daily Breeze reporter, critic and editor, teaches writing at Harbor College in Wilmington.