The Handshake Line in Sports
Nov 2, 2023 15:26:33 #
The Handshake Line
Why can't other sports adopt "The Handshake Line" as in the NHL (National Hockey League)?
It's something all sports fans can appreciate and hockey fans love. After weeks of violent play and increasing animosity comes one of the sports world's great shows of sportsmanship and respect. Players line up to shake hands, putting the pride and integrity of the game and of their franchise above their own.
Yesterday, the Texas Rangers (my team) won the World Series in 5 games. After the last pitch, the players jumped for joy in a big circle to celebrate. Meanwhile the losing team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, sat in the dugout sad and forlorn. I was thinking...why can't the Rangers make a line and invite the Diamondbacks to a handshake line? It would be great for the sport and all other major sports....for basketball, for football, for soccer.
Why can't other sports adopt "The Handshake Line" as in the NHL (National Hockey League)?
It's something all sports fans can appreciate and hockey fans love. After weeks of violent play and increasing animosity comes one of the sports world's great shows of sportsmanship and respect. Players line up to shake hands, putting the pride and integrity of the game and of their franchise above their own.
Yesterday, the Texas Rangers (my team) won the World Series in 5 games. After the last pitch, the players jumped for joy in a big circle to celebrate. Meanwhile the losing team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, sat in the dugout sad and forlorn. I was thinking...why can't the Rangers make a line and invite the Diamondbacks to a handshake line? It would be great for the sport and all other major sports....for basketball, for football, for soccer.
Nov 2, 2023 15:48:10 #
bobbyjohn wrote:
The Handshake Line br br Why can't other sports a... (show quote)
Have to admit I thought this was a universal part of sport.
In New Zealand, from children playing school sport to the NZ All Blacks getting beaten by the damn South Africa Springboks, all players and often even the coaches etc shake hands after the game.
Sportsmanship.
Nov 2, 2023 16:08:49 #
TonyP wrote:
Have to admit I thought this was a universal part of sport.
In New Zealand, from children playing school sport to the NZ All Blacks getting beaten by the damn South Africa Springboks, all players and often even the coaches etc shake hands after the game.
Sportsmanship.
In New Zealand, from children playing school sport to the NZ All Blacks getting beaten by the damn South Africa Springboks, all players and often even the coaches etc shake hands after the game.
Sportsmanship.
You want a simple answer? There's too much money in professional sports. Where other teams used to be considered fellow competitors they are now considered enemies. We used to talk about professional baseball players as "The Boys of Summer. I haven't heard that term for years. Just another sad reminder of times gone by.
Nov 2, 2023 17:12:53 #
I stopped watching most big league sports except for two or three teams and have switched mostly to college ball. But now it's getting to the same point there just having a football or basketball scholarship that pays for their education at an Ivy League college isn't enough. Now they want some bucks.
By the way I did a little research on a couple of Ivy League colleges that gave sports scholarships and a very small percentage actually used their education after they graduated if they didn't make it into the big leagues. No wonder Cornell costs 50000 a year plus their coaches get paid very well
By the way I did a little research on a couple of Ivy League colleges that gave sports scholarships and a very small percentage actually used their education after they graduated if they didn't make it into the big leagues. No wonder Cornell costs 50000 a year plus their coaches get paid very well
Nov 2, 2023 17:14:00 #
Yes, a simple answer and the wrong one really.
20 countries just competed for the Rugby World Cup. France New Zealand Italy Uruguay Namibia South Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga Romania Wales Australia Fiji Georgia Portugal England Japan Argentina Samoa and Chile Televised all over the world with 10's of millions of viewers.
Professional? Well along with the pride attached to being the wining Nation and while the governing body doesn't discuss payments, its rumored that if the English team had won, they would share a payment of around 7 million UK pounds. (about $US8,500,000).
After every game the players line up and shake hands and console the beaten team members.
And not just Rugby Union. In Australia they now favour Rugby league and the same formality at the end of their games applies, shake hands guys, it was a good game.
Seems the majority of the world are good sports regardless of their professional status and money.
20 countries just competed for the Rugby World Cup. France New Zealand Italy Uruguay Namibia South Africa Ireland Scotland Tonga Romania Wales Australia Fiji Georgia Portugal England Japan Argentina Samoa and Chile Televised all over the world with 10's of millions of viewers.
Professional? Well along with the pride attached to being the wining Nation and while the governing body doesn't discuss payments, its rumored that if the English team had won, they would share a payment of around 7 million UK pounds. (about $US8,500,000).
After every game the players line up and shake hands and console the beaten team members.
And not just Rugby Union. In Australia they now favour Rugby league and the same formality at the end of their games applies, shake hands guys, it was a good game.
Seems the majority of the world are good sports regardless of their professional status and money.
Nov 2, 2023 18:43:54 #
That's why I like to watch college sports rather than the pros. I agrre with you on the handshakes Bobby.
Don
Don
Nov 3, 2023 08:13:51 #
mindzye
Loc: WV
Curmudgeon wrote:
You want a simple answer? There's too much money in professional sports. Where other teams used to be considered fellow competitors they are now considered enemies. We used to talk about professional baseball players as "The Boys of Summer. I haven't heard that term for years. Just another sad reminder of times gone by.
I haven't heard that term 'boys of summer' in a long time. Thx for the reminder.
Wouldn't it be appropriate, respectful for the Mgr of the winning team to go and offer his hand, out of respect and recognition of accomplishment to the losing team's Mgr.?
Even in MMA the two opponents, who beat the livin' crap out of each other, show respect at the end.
well, most of the time anyway
Yes a Lot of $ involved. Yet still, what is the value of a simple show of respect> They are all professionals at the top of their game
Just a secondary thought --- ya' know, when long time friends get together, history et al, meet each other with the Tx. single finger Howdy Pardner salute/// be kinda' fun to see That on the field maybe with a light nod of the cap or a half smile break the tension and all and the reaction of players who don't 'get it' start an on-field fireworks display - well, heck, never mind then
Nov 3, 2023 08:36:08 #
I thought the same thing about the handshake line. That is one of the things I like about the NFL; when the game is over, opposing players and coaches seek out each other in the post game gatherings. I love the sportsmanship display.
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