07-03-2010, 07:54 AM
Every sport has its own ethos. My brother used to play defensive back in American football in high school and college. He got beaten on a play in the end zone, and tackled the receiver to prevent any chance of him catching a touchdown pass. The other team gets the ball near the goal with 4 chances to score, but they don't get an automatic touchdown. This is a blatant penalty, but it would not be considered unsportsmanlike in the least. But many things (which have in effect the same penalty) would be considered dirty in that sport, particularly in cases where penalties have been developed to protect players from injury like leg whips and chop blocks.
Basketball players will routinely foul players who are driving to the basket to prevent them from scoring and make them execute free throws instead. This is not considered a big deal at all, but then there a *lot* of baskets scored in a basketball game compared to these other sports.
I don't know how real soccer fans feel about a handball to prevent a goal in soccer. It is a desperate play with a very harsh penalty. The opponent really ought to make their penalty kick, and then your team is short a man for the rest of the match and you are out that match and possibly future matches. Personally if a player is willing to accept that penalty in order to make a play on the ball and possibly prevent a goal, I don't see a problem with that. Diving and faking or exaggerating injuries in an attempt to get an opposing player booked, on the other hand, just seems like a complete and utter disgrace to the family and friends of anyone who would do it. But, that's an outsider's perspective.
Basketball players will routinely foul players who are driving to the basket to prevent them from scoring and make them execute free throws instead. This is not considered a big deal at all, but then there a *lot* of baskets scored in a basketball game compared to these other sports.
I don't know how real soccer fans feel about a handball to prevent a goal in soccer. It is a desperate play with a very harsh penalty. The opponent really ought to make their penalty kick, and then your team is short a man for the rest of the match and you are out that match and possibly future matches. Personally if a player is willing to accept that penalty in order to make a play on the ball and possibly prevent a goal, I don't see a problem with that. Diving and faking or exaggerating injuries in an attempt to get an opposing player booked, on the other hand, just seems like a complete and utter disgrace to the family and friends of anyone who would do it. But, that's an outsider's perspective.