Sportsmanship Lessons in the NFL

Huddle up, cheer, "Yay rah team, yay rah (other team), yay rah parents!" 
Line up, shake or slap hands and say, "Good game," even if we lost.

Those are some of the most basic instructions a youth coach will give a team. Kids, be grateful for your team, the other team, and your parents. Show good sportsmanship, win or lose, by shaking hands with the other team after the game.

In lacrosse, teams are now being asked to shake hands before the game as well, which seems like a good trend, in my opinion. Some players will even shake the hands of officials after the game. Also not a bad idea, I think.

It's bothered me for a long time that some professional sports don't do any of those sportsmanship rituals. After the Patriots lost to the Ravens in the game that determined who was going to the Superbowl and who was going home, Bill Belichick (head coach of the Patriots) left the field without giving an interview. Shannon Sharpe, former NFL player and now commentator, "ripped" on Belichick for poor sportsmanship.

Bill Belichick, Patriots head coach
(courtesy of rumoursandrants.com)

John Harbaugh, Ravens head coach
(courtesy of sportsillustrated.cnn.com)

But was it? I found a couple of differing opinions on the subject.

First, I came across this blog by Frank Schwabe on Yahoo Sports' Shutdown Corner. In this piece, Schwabe agrees with Shannon Sharpe that Bill Belichick should have given a post-game interview to CBS, as is expected, despite the loss.

Bill Belichick stiffs CBS after the game, Shannon Sharpe rips him for being poor loser

But here's another take on it all by Kevin Patra of NFL.com, who points out that Belichick did meet his contractual requirement to answer questions after the game and he's not required to give a post-game, on-field interview, and people are making too much of it.

Bill Belichick ripped by Shannon Sharpe for CBS snub

What do you think? On the one hand, interviews and air time are so wrapped up in the big money of pro sports that there seems to be little room or reason for sportsmanship. Plus, it's not like Belichick walked off the field without congratulating John Harbaugh on the win. On the other hand, if it's perceived that walking off the field and shunning the "ritual" of the post-game, on-field interview is poor sportsmanship, maybe it is?

And a bigger question -- should professional athletes and teams be required to go through the rituals of sportsmanship before and/or after games? Share your thoughts below.

Also, a special shout-out to my uncle, Dean Pees (Defensive Coordinator for the Ravens and former Defensive Coordinator for the Patriots), for making it to the Superbowl again! Although, we may have to chat about his "Tonya Harding" defense... :-)

Dean Pees Thought to ‘Hire Tonya Harding,’ Spray Water Outside Patriots’ Bus in Order to Stop Tom Brady, by Luke Hughes (nesn.com)

Uncle Dean
(courtesy of Getty Images)