Spitballing topics during a busy week

After covering a string of basketball tournament games and the Class 6A state swimming and diving championships, there’s no way I can stay focused on a single topic.

That’s my excuse for a segment version today of our weekly rendezvous.

FIGHT NIGHT

The debate on whether to eliminate the post-game handshake line has resurfaced after a brawl broke out following a basketball game between Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Commerce two weeks ago.

Eight players were suspended after punches were exchanged in the postgame handshake line. So, what’s the alternative?

Simply wave bye-bye because socalled adults don’t know how to act?

I don’t care what they do with the handshake line in the college and pro games. But I never want to hear anyone suggest eliminating the handshake line at the high school level.

I’ve watched up close from press row hundreds of games in basketball and I can’t remember a single time where a serious fight broke out. The vast majority of the time, I’ve seen young people disappointed in losing or excited with winning converge in a show of sportsmanship and respect that’s long been essential in sports.

Just last week, I watched as the tears begin to roll down the face of a girl who had just fouled out late in a game. Not only was this her last game of the season, it may have been the last game of her high school career if she was a senior.

The tears continued down her cheeks as she flopped down on the bench and grabbed a towel to place over her face. Yet, she was able to reign in her emotions and join her teammates in congratulating players from the winning team.

It was a teachable moment that no matter how badly you want something or how much you dream of being the ultimate champion, the outcome doesn’t always end in your favor.

It’s a life lesson for young people that would be a shame to take away just because a few yahoos on occasion can’t control their emotions.

ROBBED, NOT ROBBED

I couldn’t help but overhear a radio broadcaster on press row last week say “we was robbed” following a game in which the team he was covering lost.

Two things: If you’re saying ‘we,’ you’re far from a neutral observer. Secondly, it’s really a reach to say “we was robbed” after the team you were covering missed late free throws and a couple of shot attempts from point-blank range.

I absolutely applaud the owners of radio stations who support their communities by sending talented people to broadcast high school games many miles away for the folks back home. That’s an old-school approach that’s rare in today’s market.

Sure, there’s going to be calls by the referees you may not like. We’re all like that.

But to blame a loss on the officials is the oldest excuse in sports, especially when your team clearly didn’t do enough to win. And, yes, I am a neutral observer whose only objective on game day is to beat deadline.

GONE TO THE DOGS

Arkansas Tech receives some national publicity recently when Sports Illustrated published a blurb on Mr. Wilson, an “emotional support coach” for the school’s softball team.

The thing that distinguishes Mr. Wilson from other coaches is that he has very long ears and walks around on four legs.

Mr. Wilson is a hound dog whose photo appears with the other Arkansas Tech coaches that includes head coach Jordan Jones. Credit Arkansas Tech for its creativity in gaining some positive national exposure.

My only question is where does Mr. Wilson go for emotional support when Mrs. Wilson barks at him for some perceived wrong-doing, no matter how small? As a married man, I can assure you this happens on occasion.