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Originally Posted by 1998 Yankees
You don't call a time out to squeeze in one more offensive play before the half.
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Before the HALF? Now teams have to start being careful with their scoring before the game is even half over. Really, this antiquated notion is getting more and more out of control.
Quote:
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The problem is, this concept of sportsmanship went out the window years ago. Few people younger than a certain age even know what I am talking about much less value the idea of sportsmanship in sports.
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I think everyone understands this rehashed concept of sportsmanship. Simply put (if you haven't gathered already) I find this concept of sportsmanship to be very insulting, and I would rather be on a team that lost 90-0 than one that lost 38-17 (after being down 35-0) when the opponent stopped trying. I guess I should have specified that I was looking for an explaination that I haven't heard dozens of times before.
It's the NFL. Yes, there is a time limit.. but we've seen some miracle comebacks before.
When do you stop being competitive, and start being 'classy'? When you're up 35-3 in the third?
1993 - Don't tell me you don't remember Frank Reich! Bills were down 35-3 going into the third quarter against the Oilers. Wound up winning 41-38.
Okay, so not 35-3 with half a game left. How about up 24 with just over a quarter left to play?
2003 - The Giants like to collapse. NFC playoffs against the 49ers they were up 38-14 nearing the end of the third quarter. Boom. Gone. San Francisco wins 39-38, with a lot of drama at the end of that game.
Still too close I guess. What about winning 35-7 after halftime?
1980 - San Francisco comes back against New Orleans, scoring 31 straight points and winning 38-35 in overtime.
Hmm, not then either. Up 23 with ten minutes left?
2000 - Jets were down 30-7 in the 4th against the Dolphins, won 40-37 in OT.
Okay, no. I guess we have to go later in the game. Up 21 with 4 minutes left? That's gotta be too late for a team to come back!
2003 - The Colts were down 35-14 against Tampa with 4 minutes left, and won 38-35 in OT.
Damn, I guess not.
So what's the verdict? Up by 35 in the fourth quarter? Is that when you start being classy? Yes, because losing by 35 with your opponent not trying for 25% of the game is much less humiliating than losing by 45 with both teams playing throughout.
Do these huge comebacks happen routinely? Absolutely not, but a couple of them happened in playoff games. This idea of 'sportsmanship' not only effects statistics artificially, but has ended the season of a few teams.
Never, ever let your guard down.