C'mon Hoppe !!
Really, they never go into the stands to attack fans? They never throw baseballs at fans? You mean Jordan never trashed talked anyone and tried to use it to his advantage in a playoff game? They never intentionally try and harm their opponent with a 95mph fastball to the head? They are not taking drugs, before, during or after games? Baseball and football players never get into actual physical fights with their opponents? Baseball managers never jump in to fight the other coaches and players and right in front of the little kiddies watching the game?
And their "off the field" actions show their true character, does it not? and we know exactly what happened behind closed doors. I don't need to see dogs actually being drowned to understand it. Or see someones girlfriend get her teeth bashed in or see somebody shoot some dude in a bar.
C'mon Hoppe, you know, I know, everyone knows how bad it is in the pro main stream sports. But we have one guy in a fringe sport that nobody outside of pool even knows, almost getting his nuts kicked in over some trash talking and some antics. As far as his personal life, I don't know much about Earl, and I'm betting no gun charges, arrests for drugs, or beating his wife or kicking his dog.
All I'm saying is try and put a little perspective in this whole thing. If you are a NFL, NBA, and MLB fan, and none of that bothers you, how could some minor antics throw all the rail birds here into such a hissy fit? It just makes no sense to me. Making this guy out to be the anti-christ is what "is seriously flawed".
My logic is NOT flawed in the least. If you are throwing Earl under the bus, but giving a free pass to the losers in the mainstream sports, that is the pretty hypocritical. You can't even agree that the main stream sports are filled with cons and trash and now you defend it because it is behind closed doors! And now I expertly pointed out that it is NOT in fact all behind closed doors? Whoops, time to change your Earl bashing strategy. Just when you thought you had me I come back with some more facts to chew on.....yikes !!
I would like to take a shot at addressing your post. I understand where you are coming from but I respectfully disagree. I am not here to get into a pissing match (I did that earlier and really isn't my style) but instead to attempt to point out the flaws in your logic.
Firstly, even if your analogies comparing Earl's behavior to other athletes was accurate (which it is not) that does not excuse his bahavior in the TAR match against SVB.
Did Michael Jordan trash talk to his opponents? Yes, as do other athletes in hockey, football, mma, etc... Trash talking in these more physical (and adrenaline filled) sports is not only accepted but can be considered part of the game, a "psychological warfare" if you will.
Do pitchers in MLB attempt to hit batters in the head with a fastball? Hell No! I am surprised someone that played baseball their entire life would make this statement. Do pitchers throw some chin music in an attempt to brush the batter off the plate a little to make him afraid to dig in and control the inside portion of the plate? Yes, of course, and it is an accepted strategy and part of the game.
Do pitchers intentionally throw at batters? Yes, unfortunately and it is usually in a form of retaliation. It is not accepted as sportsman like, If identified correctly by the umpire it will result in immediate ejection and that pitcher will generally be bbq'd by the announcers and the media. A suspension and other form of punishment will usually follow.
I can't remember a MLB player ever throwing a ball at a fan?
Have basketball players and hockey players gone after fans in the stands?
Yes, and it is never defended! It will result in a large fine and a suspension! On top of that they become the topic of how NOT to act and what Not to do as a professional athlete!
Now understand this, I am not an Earl hater. I am an Earl fan, and because of that his behavior during that TAR match probably bothered me more than those that dislike Earl. I had to stop rooting for him during that match because I could not support his childish behavior.
If you want make a more accurate analogy between sports I think you would have to look at golf or bowling. A sport where an individual performs individually and one at a time as opposed to a simultaneous offense and defense. In these sports it is not accepted as "part of the game" or sportsman like "psychological warfare" to attempt to throw your opponent off his game by trash talking or other distractions.
Instead, the expected behavior of sportsmanship is to allow the player to perform without distractions. This also include his mental preperation just prior to taking his shot.
As far as how these athletes act off the playing field. Once again an inaccurate analogy. We are discussing Earl's actions and behavior during a match so what Earl or any other athlete doe off the field is completely irrelevant to this discussion.
