Where We Discuss The Handling Of H.S. Football Blowouts
Recently another high school team wiped the floor with their opponent, as the Chaminade-Madonna football squad beat the Pompano Beach team for an 83-0 finish.
These lopsided battles are looking less like victories as the winning team must defend why they were so much better. This sort of controversy was recently visited, less than a year ago, when the Covenant High School in Dallas girls’ basketball team knocked out a 100-0 game. The girls were chastised for the seemingly over-the-top win. They even allowed themselves to be guilted into an apology (it’s a Christian school after all) and then when the coach pointed out the facts, that the girls “played the game the way it was meant to be played”, he was fired. That right there sounds just as extreme as losing a basketball game by a 100-point margin while remaining scoreless. Way to lead by example.
But back to the football game. This was not a ‘gimme’ game. It wasn’t the #1 Class AAA school laying a smackdown on Hick’s Crossings Second Chance High for Wayward Children of Malnourished Immigrants. The teams played the entire second half with a running clock. They pointed out that the scoreless Pompano Beach actually beat them last year. All this was is a game that happened to end up more one-sided than most. It was an honest competition, possibly with some extra luck on one side.
So rather than be upset by the score spread, I think we should be upset at the idea of questioning it, at reprimanding a team for daring to…well, for daring to be so good. Sure, the parents and coaches can get upset and hurl words like “humiliation” and “integrity” around, but what is their solution? And where does the coddling end? Isn’t high school the place where you stop being polite and start being real?
In 1991, the Cleveland Cavaliers took the Miami Heat for a 148-80 ride, a margin of 68 points. In 1944 the Detroit Red Wings dominated the New York Rangers 15-0. (Given that you’re more likely to see a 1-0 NHL games than, say, a 5-0 game, that’s quite the spread as well.) Do you think either of these teams were chastised for the humiliation they brought upon their opponents? It’s more likely the Heat and Rangers were forced to wear pretty pink dresses for their next practice to remind them of what they’d just been made to look like. But had any of the disgraced teammates been part of something like the Pompano Beach Massacre, they might have been sitting around the next day waiting for their apology.
Taking it another step back, just the week before Chaminade-Madonna reminded their opponents what their butts looked like as they handed them to them in little gift-wrapped boxes, the Air Force football team put on another show of similar magnitude. Not this kind of show, one that took place on the ground. The Air Force Falcons, who are not exactly known for being good, whupped Nicholls State Colonels (who are not exactly known) 72-0. The overlying theme here was not how upset Nicholls State was. I dare say Air Force even seemed a tad excited about the whole deal.
So, in honor of Pompano Beach, I have some advice for other athletes around the world. LeBron James, could you maybe not shoot so much? Try just dribbling in circles to use up time every once in awhile. You too, Kobe. In fact, while we’re at it, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, Mr. Ovechkin. I want more passing, less shooting. Yes, this includes when you have a wide open shot, because how fair is that? Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal … ? Actually, you two are good. Perfect way to intersperse some disheartening defeat in with the spectacular wins. Uh, keep up the good work guys. And Tiger? Well I’m about to make you play the entire round with a 7-iron if you don’t watch yourself. Think of the children, think of the example you’re setting for high school teams like Pompano Beach that just may be led to believe that it’s okay for someone who’s really, really good to occasionally trounce their competition.
James photo courtesy of Flicker via the AP
All other photos courtesy of Flickr
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