TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY

Sports Editorials

Related Photos

Discussion

October 5, 2009

Turn loose the celebrations!

Quincy Alexander

By Quincy Alexander / for the Times-Tribune

(Whistle sound.) Personal foul, on the offense, 15 yard penalty. Blah. Blah. Blah.

Are you getting where I'm going with this? The title, the whole referee’s call in text thing? Okay good.

Where have all the celebrations gone? I don't understand why we have allowed this to happen. Isn't this the land of the free?

On Saturday LSU's winning drive was set up because the brilliant wide receiver AJ Green scored the go ahead touchdown and wanted to — what? Jump up and down with his teammates? How dare he? The ensuing, longer kickoff put the Tigers in position to score a go ahead touchdown of their own.

Now, I want to be clear. If T.O. (Terrell Owens) pulls out a sharpie, Joe Horn brings out a pre-hidden cell phone or (Chad) OchoCinco puts on a ridiculous Hall of Fame jacket — yes, flag them, fine them even. This nonsense of throwing the horrid yellow cloth anytime someone doesn't pull a Barry Sanders and politely hand the ball back to the ref is beyond insanity.

The whole “act like you've done it before” argument is worn out.Yeah, in the “No Fun League” maybe there should be restraint on a majority of the touchdowns, but the game winning catch in the Super Bowl?

Santonio Holmes shouldn't have to wait until the official isn't looking to use the ball for his Kevin Garnett/LeBron James impression. And yes, the officials said if they had seen it they would have thrown the flag.

What about the kids at the high school level? Dominique Hayden of LCA is fast approaching the state record in touchdowns, but against one of the Eagles’ biggest rivals he handed the ball to the ref on both of his TDs.

I don’t know for sure and that may be his temperament, but I think he did it because he has Xanthophobia (the fear of yellow.)

So, we have to settle for the same ole hip-to-hip jumping, kind of a whole body high five thing because for some reason that isn't deemed as excessive celebration.

Why can’t we get back to the choreographed brilliance of yesteryear?

Can't we just let the athletes celebrate what they’re good at. I mean as long as it’s not like when Peter did “Shipoopi” after scoring a TD for the Patriots on “Family Guy.”

Isn't the act of celebration a product of what we have made the game to be with all the cameras and media coverage? Do you think Jim Thorpe danced around? When you play flag football does a guy pull out a sharpie and sign your flag? No.

We wanted entertainment. They get scholarships and insane salaries to entertain, let's let them do what we asked of them and for the high school kids — let’s let them enjoy playing the game.

Text Only
Sports Editorials
  • 0331 Fear Les Diamond Ratings.jpg Fear 'Les' Diamond Ratings

    North Laurel enters region tournament play as one of the hottest teams not only in the 13th Region, but the entire state. The No. 10 state-ranked Lady Jaguars are winners of 17 straight while allowing only four runs during their last 10 games.

    May 29, 2012 1 Photo

  • Les Dixon Interesting week ahead for local teams

    Believe it or not, in just two days the postseason will begin for our baseball and softball teams in the Tri-County and with that said, it’s time for me to pull out my old trusty crystal ball and give my two cents worth on what to expect once postseason play begins.

    May 21, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0331 Fear Les Diamond Ratings.jpg Fear 'Les' Diamond Ratings

    The Lady Jaguars are winners of 14 straight, but if they hadn’t turned in a solid showing against McCreary Central, I was close to moving them to the No. 2 spot.

    May 17, 2012 1 Photo

  • Les Dixon Mitchell might be back on the sidelines sooner than later

    It’s been two days since former Lynn Camp coach David Mitchell was informed he was fired and from what I’m hearing, it might not be long at all before Mitchell is back on the sideline coaching.

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tim Branstetter So who will UK replace with Indiana and North Carolina?

    I sure hate to see Kentucky drop Indiana and North Carolina from its schedule. I love to watch Kentucky play those two storied programs, and I really don’t know how you could replace them on the schedule.

    May 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tim Branstetter Kudos to Chris Hart

    I would like to give out a Big Time Timmy Gem to Corbin softball coach Chris Hart for getting his 100th career win.

    May 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tim Branstetter Big Blue fantasy draft

    After hearing a little debate about which team is better between the 1996 Wildcats and the 2012 Wildcats I decided to do a draft with my buddy and Times-Tribune assistant editor, Brad Hall.

    May 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Les Dixon I’ve got lots to ramble about

    It’s been more than a week since I last rambled about sports and with that said, I’m not going to waste anyone’s time, so let’s get to it.

    May 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 0331 Fear Les Diamond Ratings.jpg Fear 'Les' Diamond Ratings

    The Lady Jaguars are hitting on all cylinders right now. North Laurel has positioned itself as the team to beat in the 13th Region after defeating cross-town rival South Laurel this past week, 2-0.

    May 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Tim Branstetter Coaching kids isn’t easy, but it’s a lot of fun

    Last weekend was one of the greatest sports moments of my life.I couldn’t be more proud of my 6th grade travel basketball team, Southeast Elite, for winning the Smoky Mountain Classic in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

    May 1, 2012 1 Photo