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Feb 21, 2004 As a former physical education instructor and sports supervisor, I have, for years, had a serious problem with what I refer to as the quiet sports. A quiet sport is one that tradition dictates--the heavier the pressure and tension, the quieter the crowd must become. The big three quiet sports are tennis, golf, and bowling. However, when participating in one of the big three traditional sports, baseball, football, and basketball, the opposite is true. The tighter the situation, the more raucous the crowd should be. Three seconds remaining in the Super Bowl as Adam Vinitari of the New England Patriots awaits the snap of the ball giving him a chance to win the game. The noise is deafening! Tiger Woods lines up his putt on the eighteenth green in Augusta to win the Masters, and the wide-eyed onlookers are terrified to breath for fear of the slightest sound reaching the ears of the golfing legend. It just makes no sense. If I had my way, as Agassi prepared to serve match point, the crowd would be standing, waving towels and screaming at the top of their lungs in an attempt to either encourage or distract Andre. Come on, that's the beauty of sports. The fans should have a part in the outcome, however minute. It is absolutely no fun to be quiet. Remember when you were a kid. It was a punishment when your mom demanded, "keep quiet." Making noise was a blast. I have asked many golf, bowling, and tennis fans over the years to explain the difference between a batter attempting to connect with a Roger Clemens fastball and Arnold Palmer's chip shot on 16. I usually get the same droll answer-- "it's tradition." Booooring! It was once tradition to stone people for practicing witchcraft. While I'm on the subject of quiet sports, let me ask you a question. Is there anything more annoying and irritating than talking to a golfer if you don't golf? I'll answer for you. No! If you haven't figured it out yet, I do not golf, bowl or play tennis. I was at a small get together last week when I noticed an old friend talking to three other guys. I strolled over to say hello and chit- chat. We shook hands and he introduced me to his friends. One of the ivy-league looking gents asked if I golfed. I replied, "no, I don't." He scrunched up his face with a look you might expect from someone who was just informed that I was the person who had cheated his parents out of their entire retirement savings. For a moment I thought he was going to throw his tonic water in my face. My response had reduced me to leper status in the group. Even my old friend slowly began wiping his hand on his pants, as if trying to clean off any lingering forensics from our handshake. I excused myself and retreated to the bathroom. I felt the sudden need to wash up. Maybe I'm being a little hard on the quiet sports and their minions. I just believe one of the undeniable beauty's of sports is the fan reaction and interaction. So, if you've got the nerve, the next time you are in attendance at a golf, bowling, or tennis event, as the tension mounts, free yourself from the bonds of misguided tradition and stand up and cheer at the top of your lungs, and keep cheering and screaming until security drags you away. ------------ About the author: Pete Whalon is a retired, 54 year-old male living in Redondo Beach California. He is in the process of self publishing his first book, a humorous account of his 22 months in Vietnam in 1969-70- 71, titled: The Saigon Zoo: Vietnam's Other War; Sex, Drugs, Rock 'n Roll". Email Pete Whalon: kinoman7@aol.com Comment on this column in the forum. Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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