Posted on 12/29/2009 5:15:27 AM PST by Kaslin
Ping
The same thing has happened to the NFL.
Many other sports as well.
You would see a man make a touchdown and, mirabili dictu, all his did was hustle to the bench.
Boxing has been reduced to the level of “professional” wrestling.
Boxing has been reduced to the level of “professional” wrestling.
No ear biting in the old days either. Of all the modern champions the one that seems to have the most class is Evander Holyfield but he’s retired.
Sports used to involve sportsmanship. A great deal of modern sports is now just trash. Frankly, I think it has a lot to do with the demographics and the importance placed on showboating, insulting rivals, and lack ofd respect for rules. But I guess it’s not PC to say so.
I believe it was Vince Lombardi who told a young player who show-boated after scoring a touchdown, “Act like you’ve been there before”.
Trunks and footwear with garish colors and tassels and cha cha balls are meant for one thing. To distract the eye of the opponent, and should be illegal. I stopped watching boxing three years ago, because of ALL the bs involved.
America of olde is gone...
bump for later
LLS
He must be referring to Cassius Clay, who at least backed it up with action.
That was my thought too
“Pure Class” is right!”
Likewise the Hollwood stars back then...a bit “corny,”and I never liked their overuse of the word “swell,” i.e., this is swell, that’s sell, swell gal, swell guy, etc.
But a small price to pay for the difference ‘tween then and now, in many cases.
Dick
*****
I watched the crowd in many older sporting events on ESPNClassic:
1) The women in the audience, whether baseball or football looked like women and not like shanks.
2) The cheerleaders routines didn’t look like a strippers pole dance....not that there is a problem with that..
3) Everyone was smoking...if it was the late 60’s one can only guess what they were smoking.
4) Athletes were noticeably smaller
5) Only a couple of cameras showing the action
6) TV graphics look quite quaint unlike the flood of graphics shown today.
7) Less stadium music played so one didn’t feel like they were at a rock concert
8) The games were in the DAYTIME as opposed to ending at midnight(MLB!!)
9) The 1970’s NBA classic games look like a Will Farrel movie
10) Joe Namath was a punk whose whole reputation is built on one game.
Inwoodian wrote: I believe it was Vince Lombardi who told a young player who show-boated after scoring a touchdown, “Act like you’ve been there before”.
..... Beautiful! What a perfect pinprick to the ego balloon. There is NO comeback to counter that remark.
I watched the Marciano-Walcott fight on tv a few weeks ago. While Walcott was ahead on points before he was knocked out, he had taken a beating from Marciano (and given Marciano a good one too) up to that point. That undoubtedly made it easier for Marciano to knock him out. A tired and beaten Jersey Joe couldn’t stay away for the final three rounds. They said Marciano usually took two punches to get in one of his own, and that fight epitomized that analysis. Walcott, like most of Marciano’s opponents, was a better boxer, but Marciano’s steel in his gloves and in his chin proved the winner in the end.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.