Medina Today

Let’s talk showmen and showoffs.

The world of sports has evolved as entertainment to reach a fan base that is younger, and in tune with swag and showing off. That means that older fans have to evolve too, or take issue. Pure sport vs. entertainment. Let’s take issue.

Now, I may not be the target market for today’s sports entertainment, and I get that. But what passes as showmanship today has certainly evolved from showmanship back in the day.

We used to call them “hot dogs.” Now, they are showmen with swag or swagger. One man’s trash talk is another man’s silver tongue. Showmen or showoffs? You decide.

Showmanship is now part of the entertainment package. You might ask, “OK, Blake, is this another old-school vs. new-school debate?” Well, yes, but I don’t have the answer, only the fuel for the debate. The answer is up to you. It may come down to expressing a player’s personality today vs. restraint and business back then. Both systems have merit. Today, we like to pay for and seek out those who are larger than life, unique, expressive and maybe more fun to watch.

Back in the day, there was a quiet class to many of the greatest athletes in sports.

When did you ever see Oscar Robertson trash talk or fist pump, or mug for a camera after a great play? Never. Same for Jerry West. Did you ever see Stan Musial or Greg Maddux or Hank Aaron bat flip or chest-pound? Never. 

Now, there were the glares of Don Drysdale and Bob Gibson, but that was intimidation, not mugging. Jimmy Brown, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Jim Taylor and Larry Csonka all got the job done without prancing or dancing after scoring. But, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson is credited by many with inventing the after-score dance and it was new and entertaining.

I am reminded of the Vince Lombardi-Donnie Anderson story. Anderson (Texas Tech) was a first-round draft pick with the Green Bay Packers in 1966. After scoring a TD, he and his “Gold Dust Twins” teammate buddy, Jim Grabowski (Illinois), hugged and jumped and celebrated. When Anderson returned to the bench, Lombardi asked him why he was so excited and celebratory. Anderson replied, “Because I scored a touchdown, Coach.” 

Lombardi looked him in the eye and said, “Oh, you were excited because you don’t score many touchdowns. I will remember that when I negotiate your next contract with you.” From that point on, and 40 more NFL touchdowns, Anderson simply placed the ball down and walked away after scoring.

There is something to be said for quiet class. Class and style above the others was exhibited by guys like Wayne Gretzky, Bob Pettit, Wilt Chamberlain, Joe DiMaggio, Ernie Banks, Tony Gwynn, Mickey Mantle and scores of classic-era athletes, who just did their jobs well, without taunting or boasting. But Patrick Roy was a showboat goalie who won and entertained; Bill Russell had tenacity, flair and won, and Babe Ruth had showmanship and won. Chris Evert may have been cool and collected, but Serena and Venus Williams had style and exuberance and won. You can have class both ways and be entertaining doing it.

Bjorn Borg was methodical and cool, but John McEnroe was demonstrative and boastful. Sam Snead and Ben Hogan just played precision golf to win, but Chi Chi Rodriguez and Lee Trevino played with flair. Sugar Ray Robinson (whom I had the honor of meeting) was fluid, quick, powerful and sugar-sweet, but Sugar Ray Leonard entertained the public. Is either better? It depends on your outlook or mood.

In baseball, many fielders dive for balls that they could catch standing. In the day, outfielders made “shoestring” catches that showed true athleticism … keeping their feet to make the play. Now, many players dive after the catch and it looks cool. It probably isn’t necessary, but it makes the highlight reel. 

As a former ballplayer, I see both sides. Not necessary, but a great show. Additionally, in today's world, an athlete is more marketable if he or she plays with flair and a unique personality.

There is a certain excitement created when athletes play with flair. Willie Mays didn’t boast or bat flip – he didn’t need to, but he ran out from under his cap to make a great catch or slide into the next base, and that made his play even more exciting. 

Michael Jordan played a beat above and he showed it with flair and added fun to the game. Muhammad Ali, possibly “The Greatest” showman of all-time, boasted and danced and trash-talked and was poetic … and he backed it all up with his performance and became bigger than life. 

Is that it? Is it OK to show off if you show the performance? Is it OK to show off if you are on the home team, but not the opponent? Is it OK if you like the guy, and not if you don’t? Was pure sport better? That is an arguable point, but is it more fun to watch today? Your call, but sometimes … yes.

Has the taunting, mugging, dance routines and trash talk (we will talk about trash talk in a later column) gone too far or is it just natural progression of people and entertainment? Not better or worse … maybe just different and more fun. 

How do YOU feel about it? Let me know, at mike.blake@advantageinformatics.com

See you next time.