End zone celebrations

[dawgball]

It is quite popular now to run-down the players performing extravagant end zone dances these days. I, for one, think that it is very good for the game. Anything to entertain the fans more has to be good for the game. If Terrell Owens invents 15-20 new dances a year that means that he is getting in the endzone quite frequently for his team/teammates.

Haslett was quoted as saying that Horn put himself in front of the team. This is somewhat true because of the 15 yard penalty assessed on the extra point, but it is a silly rule in the first place. As long as the player does not do anything degrading to the other team, players, or fans then what is the harm?

What are everyone else's thoughts on this?

 

[Penguinfan]

I don't care for it at all, as long as the rule is in place then he definatly put himself before the team, wonder what Chuck Noll would have done in that situation. In any event I think showboating, which is just promoting one's self is not necessary. Warren Sapp is the best example, complains about not being able to take his helmet off when he's on the field, what purpose would that serve, well as he puts it, to promote himself. Well I for one prefer the days when a player promoted himself by making plays, kinda like Jack Lambert did here in Pittsburgh, pat our kicker on the head after missing a FG, then he made sure to pat the turf with your head, be gald you didn't take your helmet off there!

Just my opinion.

Penguinfan

 

[Blackman]

What I don't understand is why the league banned the organized team celebrations after a TD. Something like the Mile High Salute or even the Dirty Bird didn't hurt anyone - and gave the whole team and the fans the ability to take part in the celebration if they choose since they knew what was coming. Never saw the harm in it - and if opposing teams have a problem with the celebration they should keep that player and or team out of the end zone.


(Just want to throw in that you have to keep it in the end zone or that area, TO's display on the star in Dallas was one thing that I was against - since it wasn't just a celebration of a touchdown but more of a way to put down the other team).

 

[Stuman]

I think the celebrations help the game, like Dawg said. Like when the Packers leap into the endzone seats after a TD. Do they still do that? Haven't seen much NFL other than my Titans lately...

 

[dawgball]

Good point, Stu. What is really different between Terrell using the pom-pons and the Lambeau Leap?

I also agree that stomping on the Cowboys star was out of line, and I tried to seperate that from the otehr celebrations in my original post. If that was confusing, I would like to clarify that I do believe that it is on a different level.

 

[Mjolnir]

you can celebrate without acting like an ass.
billy white shoes johnson was appropriate but the stuff that T.O. and joe horn seems punkish and me first, look at me.
the greatest of all times didn't seem to have to act like that.
:thefinger

 

[IntenseOperator]

The celebrating or what it actually is, taunting, will stop when some massive player in the future rips some other dudes helmet off (with head in it) for doing some endzone thing of one sort or another. Football will turn into hockey were guys with equipment on try to bash each other's brains in. Someone should have nailed Horn while he was making his call , knocked his cocky ass out of the game. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTERTAINMENT. The Giant players have nothing to loose at this point. Wait till they are on top in the future and the roles are reversed.

I don't mind the celebrations. I really don't. I can't help but think this Horn garbage and the Owen's junk was agent driven. I hate being manipulated.

 

[Redfish]

I can't stand it.....don't care if they do it..but please turn the camera's off so I don't have to watch such childless antics...treat it the same way the coverage crews handle field streakers. I'd rather spend the time reviewing the replay to see who threw the block that sprang him, who screwed up in coverage, etc.

 

[THE KOD]

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Joe Horn's phone call will prove costly, as the NFL plans to fine the Saints receiver $30,000 for his cell-phone celebration.

The fine was confirmed for ESPN.com by agent Ralph Vitolo and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. Horn is expected to be apprised of the fine in writing on Wednesday, the day on which NFL officials typically notify players of any punitive actions.

The fine stems from the now-infamous post-touchdown celebration stunt in the second quarter of New Orleans' 45-7 win against the Giants on Sunday night. After scoring the second of his four touchdowns in the game, Horn grabbed a cell phone from underneath the padding around the bottom of the goal post and pretended to make a call.

The fine represents about three-quarters of one game check, based on Horn's base salary of $700,000 for the 2003 season. But the punishment, according to Vitolo, could have been significantly harsher, with the league considering at one point a suspension of one or two games

 

[dawgball]

With all do respect for Mr. White Shoes, I don't believe he played the same game as the players today. Good or bad, the players can not be held fully accountable for what football (and all professional sports for that matter) has become.

I don't understand what is wrong with celebrating a touchdown. I don't think that it's the classiest thing to do, but it is entertaining.

Sammy Sosa hops; Shaq throws the Omega; Beckham performs the lunging slide; Tiger throws the fist pump -- I don't see any difference. These guys are paid mega-money to not only play the game and win but to also be entertainers. If you don't believe that then you are simply naive.

To add: anyone performing these celebrations while getting stomped are obviously only doing it for self-promotion. I also think there should be strict guidelines about foreign objects such as the cell phone.

Bring back the Dirty Bird and the Ickey Shuffle!

 

[RexBudler]

I remember the Washington Redskins
" funbunch " celebration.......I dont see anything wrong with celebrating.....as long as no one is getting hurt

 

[gardenweasel]

sort of agree with intense

sort of agree with intense

where do you draw the line?.......now they`re using props?......you run the risk of turning the game into a farce......

seems it`s o.k. nowadays to show your opponents up.....rub their nose in it.....i think,like i.o. said,when you finally get some big dude on an opposing team that`s having a bad day and gets pissed,somebody`s gonna get hurt......kinda like a guy that shows a pitcher up after hitting a home run....except instead of getting one in the ribs,somebody might get body slammed and have his career ended....

i think it happened to patrick johnson against the falcons a year or 2 ago.....luckily he wasn`t badly hurt...

i blame the media...the media blows...they love this stuff...reward the players with attention.....and sanction players that don`t like to deal with them....when you hear about guys getting stiffed in hall of fame votes and the like because they weren`t media friendly,that`s ridiculous....

a fan runs on the field,the cameras aren`t allowed to show it....some moron player does something non-football related after a play,and the media treats him like he`s something special for being a bore....it`s not necessarily the celebration that`s the problem...it`s the "how far should it go" aspect of it....

spike the ball...fine....do a little dance...o.k....start using stupid props and gimmicks and it will snow-ball into something ridiculous....and diminish the game....turn it into a wrassling or roller derby-like event........

you have to draw the line somewhere.....

 

[dawgball]

Where is that line drawn then? Can a guy give a fist pump?; can he do anything as long as he's not using a prop?; Can his teammate pat him on the ass?

I know this may sound ridiculous, but if you say there needs to be a line drawn, then you have to be specific as to where it is drawn. I say as long as it's not demeaning to the other team or fans AND the player doesn't use props outside of the game AND it does not delay the game, then it is okay.

 

[gardenweasel]

it`s just a game?

it`s just a game?

so is baseball,right?.......so i guess we can expect to see a guy whip a cell phone out and have a conversation as he rounds the bases.....how do you think that`ll go over?...do you think that`s silly or goes to far?.....

of course it`s silly...it doesn`t entertain me...i didn`t pay for a ticket or tune in to see clowns....if i want clowns,i`ll go to the circus....

"look at me....i can do whatever i want...i can act stupid,mock my fellow competitors....yell and berate my teammates and coaches on the sidelines..."...sportsmanship is a forgotten word...."in your face" is the rule of the day...it`s the "ghettofication" of sports and our society in general...breeding a whole generation of kids with no sense of teamwork or humility....

i guess it just mirrors how our society is changing....people suing merchants for spilling hot coffee on themselves....suing restaurants for selling food that`s not healthy(not using a little self control themselves)...lawyers justifying murderers`actions because they saw someone do it on t.v.....lawyers like you know who throwing out 10 different scenarios(most, obviously made out of whole-cloth),to defend criminals under the guise of the old "everyone`s entitled to a defense" saw that they pull out when they have to lie and deceive to get the desired result.......not taking responsibility for their actions....passing the buck...

i think people see this stuff as just an extension of how human behavior seems to be deteriorating...

i know i`ve taken the argument much farther than just a guy acting foolish after scoring a t.d....but i think many people are getting a little tired of seeing the tail wag the dog in society...

i overreacted....got off on a rant....sorry,dawg...:shrug: ....

my point is,yes it`s sport....and not to be taken all that seriously in the larger scheme of things....but sport mimics life in general.....and some of us aren`t crazy about all the peripheral foolishness...

i agree,it is just sports....unfortunately,mimicking society in general...

g.l.,bud....an interesting post..again,sorry for the rant...

btw...i just came back and reread my comments...i went to far afield considering that the topic was "endzone celebrations"....i don`t mind `em...without the props...

but,thanks for letting me get that off my chest...

i need to get a grip...:nono:

 

[dawgball]

gw--I agree with most of everything you said in your post, but I don't put sports up there with the rest of society. These athletes have been made into role models by our society, but that doesn't mean that they are good ones. Athletes are entertainers. In the past, it has always been a different side of entertainment than Hollywood, but it simply isn't that way anymore. Athletes are on the same level as musicians and actors in my book. Generally uneducated in what they do and say, but they have a great soapbox to preach from.

p.s. you need to find some mistletoe, my friend:tongue

 

[skulldog]

Bill ws, icky woods, IMO was part of the fun of scoring a TD, or leaping in the crowd, etc, but the shit that TO and JoeH did bothers the shit out of me. Now I read that JH is going to getting some $$$ for his act, now that's bullshit.

gardenweasel- well said

Dawg- the line needs to be NO PROPS whatsoever or you get suspended for 4 games w/out pay and also prohbits the player from make any $$ from his/her actions.

I'm so happy they got forbid the players from ripping off their helmets, I hated that.

These have plenty of oppotunities to dance, wiggle and it not disrespecting the other team or delaying the game.

Good thread

 

[Schouest]

I think it should be like the NBA slam dunk contest... do it at the Pro Bowl, and let all the fans hold up the 10 signs and stealing another sign from their friend and cover a 1 so they can hold up 100...

Let em all catch/run the ball into the endzone and they let em rip.

See who can rip a label maker out of their jock, remember the old time ones where you turn the knob to the number then CLICK, then make the full turn to the next number and CLICK...

I really though Randy Moss would have figured this one out by now and clicked out a number 84, slapped that baby on a ball somewhere and throw that to a fan wearing a Minny jersey...but maybe my idea will be stolen--maybe I have said too much

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

I saw interview not long ago on with Barry Sanders who was explaining why he quit at top of his game. When seeing him a funny thing struck me. As I consider Jim Brown,Walter Payton and Sanders as 3 of the best running backs and athletes in history of football they all had this in common. None were hots dogs,all very humble,none wore earrings and let their ability do the talking.

 

[yyz]

It's the XFL all over.

I think it irks some people because it is "unneccessary". A fist pump, or high five, is still a spontanious reaction. What Horn did, or Owens, or the other stuff to follow, was completely orchestrated. These guys actually had to sit back and say, "Hmmmmm....what over the top shit can I pull when I makes a play?"

I guess it doesn't really bother me. I figure the only guys who should care, are the guys on the field. (They will "settle" it on their own terms. )

 

[djv]

Just hand the ball to the rev or drop it on the ground. Or maybe alittle spike. Then jumb in the stands shake a few fans hands and get off the field. You can always tell the class form the I need more attetion guys.