Kevin Na, previously courting infamy for an extraordinary 16 on a Par4 at the PGA Texas Open earlier this year, may now be shadowed by a darker load after his uncounted “airy” en route to his first PGA tour victory at his 211th try! http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf
Whole careers can be remembered for a moment’s madness.
Floyd Mayweather Jnr is undisputedly one of the greatest boxers in the world. But his legacy is now saddled with a dubious “cheap shot” to finish off Victor Ortiz in their latest bout. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011/sep/18/floyd-mayweather-wins-victor-ortiz-butt
Both victors have won within the rules but stand tainted by scribes and fans.
I’m interested to hear Almanackers’ take on these instances and the many others which are technically acceptable yet perhaps flirting with “sportsmanship”.
Who was the boxing ear biter?
Mark O’Meara used to be known as Mark O’Nearer.
Tyson biting Holyfield was indefensible…a madman ovwer the edge. But these instances were more marginal.
Vijay Singh, of course, has long had to live with questions regarding a scorecard in his early years.The “one goat” defence doesn’t work in golf.
Leigh Matthews, by contrast, can king hit a bloke and emerge as player of the century,tough and brave.
Go figure!
Differing cultures in different sports Crio.
Golf has always had puritanical inclinations regarding rules/sportsmanship. Less concerned with things like racial equality.
Cricket has always divided over the walk/don’t walk ethic.
Football and ethics have always been uncertain bedfellows.
There is gamesmanship to the put opponent off. Mental disintegration stuff like McEnroe tantrums, cricket sledging or Nicklaus and Faldo never even making eye contact with opponents in Majors.
When you add planned violence or cheating it moves beyond ‘bad sportsmanship’.
The worst example I could think of was the ex-husband of Olympic ice skating contender Tonya Harding conspiring to have an accomplice attack the knee of her rival Nancy Kerrigan with a police baton, just before the 1994 Winter Olympics. Harding was part of the cover up, but not the planning of the attack.
Then there was Boris Onischenko who had his epee ‘modified’ to register a hit when he pressed a button in the handle in the fencing part of the Pentathlon at the 1976 Olympics.
Planned violence in AFL Grand Finals is the other thing that came to mind. Murray Weideman in 1958 against Melbourne ‘you blokes win the footy and I’ll win the fights’. Neil Balme in 1974 (I think) against Carlton – laying out the wonderful Geoff Southby and others early in the game. My memory is that Carlton may have had it coming, because I can remember Vin Waite laying blokes out in the lead up games. The level of violence in the game back then was staggering, but we thought nothing of it at the time. Saw that documentary on the 1971 GF and the violence from both sides was sickening through today’s eyes. Scott and Ditterich seemed an equal match, but taking out a little ball player like Stewie Trott because he was having a good game was nauseating. Glad we got rid of it.
NZ cricketer Chris Cairns’ sister was killed in a train accident. It has been reported in several places that members of the Australian team made “choo choo” noises when Cairns went out to bat. If it is true, it doesn’t get much lower than that.
PB
It was ’73.
And somebody always reckons Carlton has something coming.
Chris cairns has always strenuously denied the “choo choo” incident ever occured, yet it still comes up. It has no substance. I always liked Paul Elvstrom (multiple gold medallist in sailing) quote “you haven’t won a race if in doing so you have lost the respect of your competitors”.
As you’d know Tony, the champion Danish yachtsman was the inspiration for the naming of Derby winner Elvstroem; by Danehill out of Circles Of Gold.
Grunting in tennis has become debatably tactical rather than biological?
The line is dubious in the professional sporting world, where to win by any cost is the aim. Down the park with your mates, at home in the backyard, or at your local sporting venue you cheat at your own risk.