Pouring It On

Sonja Greenfield
@Mom23RN

So, I was watching a Tigers/Phillies game the other day.  Tigers won it 10-0.  Great game, Max Scherzer is now 15-1, Miguel Cabrera’s first game back from missing 4 games, and he goes yard with his first at bat. Bullpen kept the shut out.  All around a very good, complete game for the Tigers.

But a comment was made by the broadcast team that got me to thinking.   They were discussing how Max was pitching like it was a 1-0 game instead of a 8-0 game (at the time) and how he was keeping on the gas.   In sports like baseball, basketball, even hockey, if there’s a blowout going on, the winning team keeps scoring.  They don’t care.  In sports, you have to have that “killer” mentality.

So, why is it not really the case in football?   I mean, it is…but it isn’t…..

Here’s the scenario:  (And since I picked on Heat Fans last time, this one’s for you Trav!)  Let’s say the Cowboys are up 42-3 against the Giants and they’re playing in New York.   And let’s say that the Cowboys have the ball in the 3^rd, and it’s gonna be 4^th and 6, and they’re at their own 46 yard line.  And of course, they go for it, instead of punting.  Next thing you know, everyone is saying that the Cowboys are just being disrespectful. Why???  I mean, anything can happen, right?  There have been epic collapses in sports, the Giants could come back.  (Resisting a Romo joke.) 

I remember some years ago, the Pistons were playing the Celtics at Boston.  The Pistons were up something ridiculous, around 30-40 points.  The Boston crowd was into it at first, then their allegiance started to change.  The blowout was so bad, they were cheering when the Pistons scored, and actually booing when the Celtics scored.  It was hilarious.  But you didn’t hear about the Pistons being disrespectful.  It’s only in football that you hear that.   And mostly professional football at that.  Though, sometimes in the college game you do hear it.  Mostly when a “lesser conference” team goes up against a D1 team.

Now, I do understand resting your starters, giving other guys garbage time and so on and so forth, but you see my point, right?  Is there a part of football etiquette that I’m missing out on?  If so, let me know!

Meanwhile, I’m just gonna check the final score on the current Tigers/Nationals game that is going on.  Oh boy…10-1, Tigers.  In the 6^th.