Unsportsmanlike?

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by MPLAHE

I believe it was Joe Pa or bobby Bowden who coined the phrase "its not my job to keep the score down, its yours" however, at some point it is blatantly obvious when one team has another thoroughly outclassed and there comes a point where its time to call of the dogs. You reference that you have seen 25 points vanish, but based on the way this one turned out, this was one of those classic mismatches. I had one like this a few weeks ago in a girls game where the coach was up by 30, continued to press even though it was obvious the other team lacked the ballhandling skills to break it, and beat them by 50 or so. To make matters worse, he continued to moan for every travel or foul commited by the other team. I wanted so badly to tell him what an embarrassment he was.

Good coaches teach kids a lot more than basketball. These are the opportunities to show and teach a little class. This coach seems to have missed this opportunity. Maybe after the a** whipping he got in the next round, he'll show some the next time this opportunity presents itself.

We all have a right to our opinion. I just do not see anything wrong with a trick play to start the second half with at least 16 minutes to go in the game. If they had a 25 point lead, they could lose that 25 point lead too in the next 16 minutes. I think sometimes we get caught up in "what it all means" than just understanding that this is a game and the object is to win in any competition. I agree you should do it with class, but running a play that might have some trickery element to it is not unsportsmanlike or classless at that point of the game. If you are fooled by this play you disserve to lose.

Peace