David:
No, you're not an old fuddy duddy, but you are part of a vanishing breed. Every year there are fewer folks who respect the game for what it's been, (real baseball), and more who expect it to be entertainment.
I'm sure the tournament directors will brief the teams on expected behavior next year. The question of why it wasn't done this year may lead to some interesting discussions.
I hate to see "hot-dogging" as much as the next guy, but in our current society it takes a strong message in advance to keep the game on the line of a normal athletic contest. The kids see all the poor examples on TV, movies, at school, etc., and develop an attitude that believes it's normal to be an eccentric, rather than a serious, dedicated player.
Yes, the Harlem coach could have done a much better job of controlling behavior, but maybe he wasn't expecting the various exhibitions of showmanship, either.
senior
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