<p>and of course, some of you’ve probably heard of the recent fights involving the Cubs.</p>
<p>Well, I’m just wondering how to remedy this situation since it’s very destructive. Physical fights give sports a bad name. Why do these people lose their temper and resort to channeling their frustration into physical violence?
Why can’t they just say “I’m very upset right now. Why did you do that?” or “I misunderstood what you were trying to do. I’m sorry.” or “That was inappropriate. Could you not do it again?” or “I become severely distraught under these circumstances. Please understand.” Politicians, on the other hand, don’t get into physical fights nearly as much (the only example I could think of is that Republican senator who attacked the poor Democrat in Alabama).</p>
<p>I’m afraid for the people who emulate those baseball players, just as I am for people who emulate stunts on the Jackass show or whatever it’s called. One of the kids I mentor enjoys it when he does tricks on his skateboard and purposely messes up so it hits his genitals. I’m perplexed by this habit, but apparently, he first saw it on that show. He might grow up a masochist? </p>
<p>The college boys I’ve seen are not appalled but are actually excited by sports fights. The kids’ reactions are not much different. For this reason, I believe that what these players are doing is possibly dangerous to society. The players should fight only when behind the scenes, if they still feel compelled to fight. What I’m especially annoyed by are the apologies afterwards. Haven’t these players learned anything from violent incidents involving others?</p>
<p>My friends and I never resort to physical fight no matter how serious the circumstances. I don’t care if my girlfriend is stealing my boyfriend… I never lose my composure. Instead, we’d be like “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me” “We will overcome this tragedy. <em>hug</em>” Why can’t baseball players do the same? So, in response to cavalier, I’m absolutely not joking. </p>
<p>This has to be a joke. I’ve played hockey my whole life, and fights are a part of the game. If you didn’t have fights you would have people “getting back” at others through cheap shots…which are much more likely to lead to injury. Whereas after a fight it’s settled…both players get their anger out and that’s that…you move on, nobody is hurt. Furthermore, when the way you make a living (income) is through sports, if somebody threatens your way of life (throwing at your head in baseball, cutting you in football) then it’s only common that one would get very upset. “Could you please not do that again” isn’t gonna make them get the point, fighting may. I really hope you aren’t this niave.</p>
<p>Baseball, in particular, has fights for a reason. These “brawls” are necessary to baseball, and are one of the major reasons baseball is so much more civilized than other sports (especially basketball).</p>
<p>The fights (in games A-Rod does not play in) almost always start when a batter is hit intentionally by the pitcher and then charges the mound (as you see in the video). The pitchers do not do this for the hell of it; it is done with a purpose. It is done to preserve the etiquette of the game. Likewise, the rest of the team (especially the catcher - as at least half the time he has called the plunking - which is why the one minor league batter kicked the catcher in the mask) immediately attempts to protect their team’s pitcher, as the action he took was on behalf of the team and the game, and not himself. (Also, pitchers are usually not the best at defending themselves.) Emily Post would be proud.</p>
<p>To say that baseball fights are a detriment to society is to profess a complete misconception of the game of baseball.</p>
<p>You say these bench-clearing brawls are harmful; I say that people mindlessly attacking something based on their own self-fulfilling ignorance is far worse.</p>
<p>I know that Lou Pinella has a short temper- he supposedly uses it to motivate the players- when he was in Seattle- he was a well liked manager by both the fans and the team . </p>
<p>My younger daughter plays rugby- and while I would agree it is pretty rough- aggression is part of the game.</p>
<p>Thxzp: So if the fights are necessary to baseball, why do other people try to stop those involved in a fight? Given this understanding, why do people involved in fights apologize afterwards? Why can’t they just say “This is part of baseball, so it has to happen. If you have a problem, don’t watch.” I would appreciate that more (I’m not personally offended by the fighting).</p>
<p>Should fighting be encouraged to further preserve the “etiquette of the game”? I’m sure more would do it if it weren’t for their efforts to control their temper. Do little league coaches have the same understanding as professional coaches? </p>
<p>You’re right that I don’t have complete understanding of sports. However, I do know that physical violence should never be the answer to any trivial problem.</p>
<p>I think that aggression in sports is acceptable, but it should be used appropriately (i.e. to play with greater intensity, not to fight).</p>
<p>'tisthetruth is on the interesting borderline between being a provocative question raiser and being a ■■■■■. I’m not sure which side my vote is on right now.</p>
<p>People try to stop them because the fighting is generally done to prove a point, not to really hurt anyone.</p>
<p>They apologize afterwards because the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, idiotically listens to people like you and the players would get huge fines and suspensions if they did not issue an “apology.”</p>
<p>
[quote]
Do little league coaches have the same understanding as you?<a href=“Stupid%20Question”>/quote</a></p>
<p>In relation to the other coaches yes. Like intelligent adults, however, they do not encourage 12 year-olds to hurt one another. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I never said you don’t have a complete understanding of sports. I said you have a complete misunderstanding of baseball. Quite different, those two.</p>
<p>And under what definition is making a mockery of over 160 years of tradition a “trivial problem?”</p>
<p>Bruises aren’t “getting hurt.” Getting hurt is ripping apart your ACL bcuz you had to two hand player x with your stick to get back at him for the cheap shot he took at your teammate instead of fighting him… if you toss the gloves and fight the worst that’ll happen is a few bruises/cuts…and then it’s settled.</p>
<p>'tisthetruth, I’m very upset right now. Why did you make this ridiculous post? I’m trying to understand what you were trying to do. I’m sorry. This thread was inappropriate. Could you not post it again? I become severely distraught while reading it. Please understand.</p>
<p>I envision a world that is completely peaceful and where violence will not be tolerated in the name of sports. I’m disheartened that most of you disagree and have even resulted to attacking my dignity.</p>
<p>Amused, I’m sorry that you’re easily distraught. That’s definitely not a good thing. Perhaps you’ve been sheltered all your life, but hopefully, you’ll be ready to face the tough world out there in several years. </p>
<p>Lax, bruises still cause physical pain, just to a different degree as tearing a ligament.</p>
<p>Thx,
my question asked if coaches have the same understanding as you that physical fights are an essential part of the game and must therefore be encouraged. You answered it by criticizing the question, answering yes, and then trying to support your answer with a contradictory statement. Why don’t they encourage 12-year-olds to do the same? I thought that physical fights are acceptable in sports?</p>
<p>
That is incorrect. You say that physical fights are necessary to baseball but that players fight without trying to hurt anyone? The point of fighting is to prove a point by inflicting physical pain.</p>
<p>
If I believed in a cause, I would suffer the consequences from my advocating it without issuing an apology. Apologizing for something you wholeheartedly believe in is not admirable. What do you mean they listen to people like me? I never encouraged those players to apologize.</p>
<p>
The trivial problem is the misunderstanding among baseball players, not “making a mockery of over 160 years of tradition” that you accuse me of. Besides, the only mockery I’ve observed is players apologizing for what is supposed to be an essential baseball tradition.</p>
<p>Coureur, I linked that video because it was the first one that came up when I searched baseball fights. I was hoping to find one of the Cubs, but alas, I did not find the ones I had in mind despite using different search terms (I also didn’t know the names of the people involved at first).</p>
<p>[To</a> me, one of the most notable things about rugby is how it utterly differs promotionally from one of my other hobbies, historical reenacting. In American Civil War reenacting, where participants often march around the countryside armed and carrying bayonets, big sheath knives and swords, we go to great pains to point out that we’re not glorifying war or celebrating violence.](<a href=“http://wesclark.com/rrr/bumper.html]To”>Rugby Bumper Sticker Survey)</p>
<p>Of course my daughter plays rugby so I understand the joys of physical contact- to feel is to live.</p>
<p>TO bring it back to baseball- I didn’t see any fights yesterday- although I did have the best seats in the entire field - first row right behind Griff- I didn’t even have to yell to say hi :D</p>
<p>well at least in rugby, it’s part of the sport. Baseball is different. My anthropology professor and I are actually going to a game. We’re studying why and how players act differently on the field and fans in and/or near a stadium.</p>
New rule of speaking:
You’re not allowed to change what I said to make it seem like I attacked you personally and then whine about me attacking you personally.</p>
<p>You have no frame of reference as you clearly have never played baseball and therefor, could never have participated in a baseball fight. Go bi tch about something you understand.</p>
<p>“Of course my daughter plays rugby so I understand the joys of physical contact- to feel is to live.”</p>
<p>A excellent quote from EM. Having played for a decade “to feel is to live”. Yes, it’s like that.</p>
<p>Most team sports have some level of physical contact that is expected in the run of play, even baseball. Usually a fight occurs when someone crosses the line established by the spirit of the game. Fights in baseball rarely occur after a clean collision at the plate between catcher and runner. However if the runner goes out of his way to take out the catcher, then batters start getting hit. I can’t remember the teams but a few weeks ago a baserunner nailed the catcher even though the catcher had no possible play for an out. His next at bat, pitch to the back, and so on… till the benches cleared…</p>
<p>Fighting sometimes occurs to bring things back in line as a calculated effort to bring the game into order. </p>
<p>Having reffed soccer for a decade as well, I know when a ref decides to put his whistle in his pocket, a fight will break out eventually at the HS level and above. Fights occur because players feel the officals have no taken control of the game. In soccer the first 10 minutes are called framing the game. In other words you are letting the players “know” what is and isn’t going to be tolerated today. I watched the US and Mexico yesterday and the ref let em play to a certain extent… he was very good and the match was excellent. </p>
<p>In the baseball situation I described the umpire should have just tossed that runner for nailing the catcher ( the runner had to take two steps wide to hit the catcher away from home plate) and things would have settled. Instead it fell on the teams to sort it out. </p>
<p>In sport a good offical sees things brewing and takes steps to chill out the players involved.</p>