For the first time this year, I can finally say that spring has arrived. Usually, people associate spring with bright sunshine and budding flowers, but those of us in Hanover know that April often only promises more snow. Conveniently, my spring starts regardless of weather, when the NBA and NHL playoffs ramp up into full gear.
Even though I enjoy watching sports during the regular season, nothing compares to the intensity of a playoff atmosphere. Nearly every player brings his A-game, because no professional athlete wants to watch the NBA or Stanley Cup Finals sitting at home on the couch. Sometimes those players' intensity materializes into verbal abuse, or even physical violence. The public often vilifies these acts of aggression and the athletes who commit them. League officials have gone as far to suspend vital players after an altercation (recently, the NBA suspended Orlando's Jason Richardson and Atlanta's Zaza Pachulia for their fight during this year's first round series).
So springtime ushers in anger. Harnessing that anger is the key to playoff success. How many NBA teams have won a championship without a fiery point man who thrives on pressure? I hate Kobe Bryant, but I am forced to respect what he can do with a basketball. Players like Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett all have a mean streak. They commit hard fouls, they get in peoples' faces and they are not afraid to be portrayed as a villain if it will win them the game. Hockey stars like Chris Pronger and Zdeno Chara are happy to sacrifice their body if delivering a bone-crushing hit gives their team a chance for the win. Win or go home. That simple concept brings out the best in every competitor.
Call me old-fashioned, but I love the added physicality and banter present in playoff sports. Although my generation was young when it happened, I still remember the greatest NBA playoff series of all time. Watching Reggie Miller score 25 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Indiana Pacers past the heavily favored New York Knicks in the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals was one of the best sporting moments of my childhood. Reggie was lights-out in the fourth quarter he scored on almost every shot he attempted. The hot streak transcended greatness and moved into the realm of legendary with the help of Spike Lee, movie director and New York Knicks fanatic.
Sometime during the fourth quarter, Lee said something from his courtside seat to anger Miller. Instead of ignoring Lee, as most NBA players do, Miller turned and started to argue with him. After the exchange, Miller transformed. He hit three-pointer after three-pointer, erasing the New York lead. After every shot, Miller turned to Lee and stared him down. He was angry, but he channeled all of his anger into playing one of the best quarters of basketball history.
My point is that a little anger and trash talk in sports makes the game better. I don't advocate brawls (such as the 2004 Pacers-Pistons brawl in Detroit) but I like to see players act like competitors instead of friends. Even though Miller is one of the most polite commentators on television, he was a different person when he stepped on the court. He didn't like anyone he played and he wasn't afraid to show that. Miller was at Madison Square Garden to win games, and he was willing to make an enemy out of one of the biggest names in the movie business in order to accomplish his task.
Trash talk, when done right, is great for sports. It should be classy and creative. Using profanity is an absolute no, as are phrases that use the word "suck" or "loser," which are played out and lack ingenuity.
Dartmouth has received some flack for interactions between spectators and players during collegiate athletic events. I'm writing this as an athlete and a spectator, so it is hard for me to pick one side of the debate. My spectator side says that there should be a strict divide between players and fans. Most of my cheers tend to be positive because I enjoy seeing my friends perform well on game day. My athletic side, however, loves trash talk. For me, a hostile crowd is just another source of motivation. Insults encourage me to perform better.
Because nothing is more satisfying than silencing a hostile crowd. Every athlete knows that actions speak louder than words.
