The Unwritten Rule Book
Andy Buss
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: Sports
Believe it or not, despite the many prominent athletes who find themselves in shameful legal and moral controversy, professional sports operate under a certain unspoken code of honor.
Unfortunately, figures such as Michael Vick, Chris Henry and Pacman Jones often overshadow the positive with filth.
We'll look at the four major sports one by one. Each contains subtle unwritten rules of respect.
Basketball: It's normal in any game with any amount of significance for a coach - of either team, winning or losing - to call a series of timeouts at the end of a hard-fought game. The timeouts are not strategic or coaching timeouts, but rather to take time to pull those players who out-performed all others out of the game and allow the crowd to recognize them individually. Also - stars don't foul out in the NBA (now whether that's positive is up for debate).
Football: As an offensive lineman, fullback or any other blocker, one thing is understood: no cheap blocks. What's considered a cheap block?
Though chop-blocking, cutting out a defenders legs from under him by hitting the knees, is technically legal and acceptable on the line of scrimmage as the play develops, to take it outside or behind the play is simply dishonorable and dangerous.
Former Dolphins quarterback Trent Green took some criticism for doing just that in the 2007 season - despite the fact the block left him unconscious on the field - still a a no-no.
Another honorable act in football comes at the end of most games. When the winning team kneels in possession of the ball instead of continuing down the field, it is out of respect for the other team - no disgracing is necessary, despite what Bill Belichick thinks.
Baseball: Unlike football, stealing signs - such as pitching signs or steal signs - is understood to be a part of the game rather than cheating. Again, this is UN-like football despite what Bill Belichick thinks.
When a base runner is going from first to second base on a ground ball, it is an unwritten rule that he may slide at the second baseman or shortstop in an effort to breakup the double-play attempt by disrupting the throw to first base. No hard feelings.
Hockey: Saved the unique for last. Hockey is in a league of it's own when it comes to perceived "strange" conduct. Stitches? Shake it off. Teeth? Who needs 'em.
Now goalies, that's a different story. Every team needs a goalie - desperately. For that reason, he is off limits. A hard rush at the net is totally legal. But make contact with the sacred net-minder and every player knows what's coming: a wall of brute protection and possibly a fist or two. That's the way it is.
That's not all. Each team has its skill players and its bullies. Granted if you play in the NHL you are a quality hockey player. But if your name is McCarty, Avery or Bertuzzi, you probably have sacrificed a bit of skill and finesse to be a hard-hitter and a fighter.
In doing so, you also are able to stand up for your team's skilled and valuable stars when they get harassed.
Unfortunately, figures such as Michael Vick, Chris Henry and Pacman Jones often overshadow the positive with filth.
We'll look at the four major sports one by one. Each contains subtle unwritten rules of respect.
Basketball: It's normal in any game with any amount of significance for a coach - of either team, winning or losing - to call a series of timeouts at the end of a hard-fought game. The timeouts are not strategic or coaching timeouts, but rather to take time to pull those players who out-performed all others out of the game and allow the crowd to recognize them individually. Also - stars don't foul out in the NBA (now whether that's positive is up for debate).
Football: As an offensive lineman, fullback or any other blocker, one thing is understood: no cheap blocks. What's considered a cheap block?
Though chop-blocking, cutting out a defenders legs from under him by hitting the knees, is technically legal and acceptable on the line of scrimmage as the play develops, to take it outside or behind the play is simply dishonorable and dangerous.
Former Dolphins quarterback Trent Green took some criticism for doing just that in the 2007 season - despite the fact the block left him unconscious on the field - still a a no-no.
Another honorable act in football comes at the end of most games. When the winning team kneels in possession of the ball instead of continuing down the field, it is out of respect for the other team - no disgracing is necessary, despite what Bill Belichick thinks.
Baseball: Unlike football, stealing signs - such as pitching signs or steal signs - is understood to be a part of the game rather than cheating. Again, this is UN-like football despite what Bill Belichick thinks.
When a base runner is going from first to second base on a ground ball, it is an unwritten rule that he may slide at the second baseman or shortstop in an effort to breakup the double-play attempt by disrupting the throw to first base. No hard feelings.
Hockey: Saved the unique for last. Hockey is in a league of it's own when it comes to perceived "strange" conduct. Stitches? Shake it off. Teeth? Who needs 'em.
Now goalies, that's a different story. Every team needs a goalie - desperately. For that reason, he is off limits. A hard rush at the net is totally legal. But make contact with the sacred net-minder and every player knows what's coming: a wall of brute protection and possibly a fist or two. That's the way it is.
That's not all. Each team has its skill players and its bullies. Granted if you play in the NHL you are a quality hockey player. But if your name is McCarty, Avery or Bertuzzi, you probably have sacrificed a bit of skill and finesse to be a hard-hitter and a fighter.
In doing so, you also are able to stand up for your team's skilled and valuable stars when they get harassed.
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