Objectivity: How Refreshing

Flopping. Cheating. Begging. Influencing. Subjectivity. All of the preceding words are utilized in the world of sports. For example, the Utah Jazz have taken flopping to a new level. It has to be coached and ingrained into them that selling the "foul" is part of the game. If that is the case, watching that type of "game" is garbage. Andrei Kirilenko has taken over the "King of Flop" from John Stockton. This type of basketball literally nauseates me. I for one am ready for the NBA to take a closer look at this aspect of the "game." It has gotten to a point where this is practiced and honed as if it is part of one's craft. How do you think this checklist would go down with Mr. Kirilenko? "Let's see, today I am going to work on free throws, boxing out, and flopping." Essentially, in my opinion,  cheating is being coached here.

However, blatant cheating should never be tolerated. Let's go back to the infamous "5th down" play between Colorado and Missouri. You will recall that this was the season that the Buffalos shared the national championship. Without cheating, they wouldn't have gotten there. And yes, they cheated to get their piece of the pie. Hey Buff nation: your "title" is a bit tainted. You know it. We know it.

Are you going to try and tell me that not one of the members on the Colorado team and/or coaching staff didn't realize that it was 5th down? Hanging this on the officials is to be expected. But, part of sports is coaching the intangibles in life. Honor and integrity are preached over and over again. Play hard, but play fair. Treat your opponent as you would want them to treat you. I would wager my IRA account that more than one coach knew they received an extra down. Yet they sat silent on the subject during the game. What a fine example they set for their players. Epic coaching and humanity fail. 

The most infuriating part of the above scenarios is that video evidence was available yet not used. This leads me to one of the reasons as to why I enjoy golf so much. It is a game of honor. There are rules officials on the course, but they are consulted only during a time when the player is not clear on his rights  or if a violation may have occurred. They also work to ensure that a player does not make a scoring error. You will recall the plight of Dustin Johnson from last season's PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Walking off 18, he thought he was in a three man playoff. However, a rules official tapped him on the shoulder and informed him of the rules infraction which occurred on his second shot on the 18th hole. Do you think this would happen in other sports? 

There is also the infamous ordeal of Craig Stadler who "improved his stance" by placing a towel on the ground prior to hitting his second shot on the 14th hole at Torrey Pines in 1987. How was this rules infraction enforced? Stadler didn't realize he "cheated" by placing the towel on the moist ground as all he was trying to do was prevent his slacks from becoming stained by the grass. However, he did violate a rule and viewers from around the country called in to inform the PGA Tour of the infraction. The next day Stadler was DQ'd for signing an incorrect scorecard. How is that for making a wrong right! There are a litany of examples in golf. Players call penalties on themselves with regularity, consult with other players to ensure they are within the rules, all to ensure that the playing field is level for all competitors. This does not happen in any other sport. How refreshing for golf to not only strive to be honorable, but when the chips are stacked and the highest of stakes are on the line, that honor and code of ethics maintains its position within the guidelines of the sport.