bettman wrote:Of course rivalries are good for sports, but I'm not sure unbridled trash-talking is what makes a rivalry good. I'd rather watch two teams who are evenly matched to the point where every play is virtually a cliffhanger, than listen to fans from City A bash fans from City B because that's what they're all told to do.
I suppose the QC Steamwheelers could've played some pre-game video making fun of the Barnstormer fans when they visited in April, but I'm glad they didn't. It's always cheap and easy to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The focus should always be the game, not what fanclub can come up with the crudest insults. Given the fact minor league sports are widely marketed as family entertainment, I don't see how children would learn very much positive about respect and sportsmanship by encouraging behavior such as taunting visitors with mean-spirited comments.
I didn't say "unbridled" tash talking was what makes a rivalry good. In fact, nowhere did I say that the Steamwheelers should do ANYTHING of what you describe. I suggested that a local media person should pick up on the fact Des Moines people were making fun of QC fans and simply report it to the QC fans. That will get people here riled up to root against the Barnstormers, just like it did in the old Mallards days when Flint players and coaches were talking bad about the QC's and the local media reported on it.
And if you're not capable of explaining to your kid what behavior is good and bad at a game, then that's too bad. I don't know how you shield your kid from everything.
The kind of trash talking I'm referring to is more of the friendly variety. As a Cardinals fan, I'm always going back and forth with Cub fans. It's all in good fun, and I'm good friends with many of the people. Haven't you ever done this?????? This kind of back and forth is what makes Cards & Cubs fans circle all those games on the calender, regardless of how good the teams are or how close the games are every single year!!!!!
