Flopping - It's Not Just In Soccer

Flopping is the "art" practiced by athletes in team sports of dramatically falling to the floor or the ground following minimal or even no contact from a close by opponent. A small touch to the back turns into a dive to the ground and writhing around like a player was shoved and injured.

Why do they do this? Primarily it's to try and get a foul or penalty on the opposing team because often that can turn directly into great opportunities for points or it can mean forcing a player to the bench.

Soccer has an unfortunately well earned reputation for this type of behavior. It's one thing that a lot of U.S. sports fans say the dislike most about the sport actually. I have to agree, you see it a lot. Heck, some countries even specialize in it - I'm looking at you Italy. But I don't like it.

But guess what? It ain't just soccer. No way. Basketball in particular has a lot of floppers.

Just this week, none other than LeBron "King" James was fined by the NBA for flopping in a playoff game against Indiana. See the story and the video of the flopping HERE.

The NBA itself knows this is a problem in their league. So much so that they've posted an official Flopping video on YouTube that shows flopping happening and saying what will be penalized. And flopping goes on all the time in the NBA. Check this video HERE.

So why bring this up? Two reasons:

1) I just want to hold the mirror up to a lot of self-righteous sports fans (you know who you are) who criticize soccer for it's flopping. Yes, it happens in that sport. Most people don't like it. But guess what? It happens everywhere, in particular in traditional U.S. sports like basketball.

2) It brings up the question of cheating. Flopping means many pro athletes are willing to cheat to get an advantage. And, many fans are willing to put up with it as long as it's their team getting the advantage. The first fans to boo when the opposing team flops are the first to express delight when their player does so and gets a positive result.

So, where is the line on cheating? Flopping suggests that its doing whatever you need to do in the flow of a game as long as you're not caught. Is that right? Maybe. After all, players wouldn't flop if it didn't regularly produce results - as in, a shot on goal, free-throws, ejection of an opponent. Maybe not because, well, it's CHEATING. And as for fans, where is the line. Do the masses put up or even emulate the spirit of cheating that they view in sports during normal life? If so, what does that mean? Is fan behavior on flopping in athletic contests indicative of something broader?

Stay Classy UW B-Ball Fans

Basketball crowds are usually pretty tame when compared to football, soccer or even baseball. Sure, b-ball fans have passion, but it's usually in a more positive direction. Yeah for our side! That type of thing.

Indeed, there is usually something about other sports that fires up the masses so that you more frequently see overt displays of hostility and hate.

But, that doesn't mean basketball fans are immune to disgusting behavior.

For example, check out this short video clip of University of Washington basketball fans I took at last night's NIT game in Seattle....

Yep. That's right. Thousands of people booing 18-22 year old women and a guy in a Duck suit. It went on and on. Keep in mind, they're not booing the opposing team, the coach or something that happened during the game. Nope. They are booing the cheerleaders and mascot during a performance during a time out in the action. Nice.

Now, this is not to say that similar behavior would not happen elsewhere - including at Oregon would the roles be reversed. It would be equally bad if that were to happen.

But, there are two points I'd like to make:

First, what is it that drives people to do this type of thing? Really? Booing the cheerleaders? Not very creative and, I suspect most of the guys in the crowd doing the booing didn't avert their eyes to avoid looking at what the group of women were doing out on the floor...if you know what I mean. In attempts to answer my own question, it's probably as simple as: hey, there's some people out there representing the rival school participating in this game, I certainly don't want that school to win, so I'm going to boo that symbol of the school to communicate my displeasure. Just so base though. Lame.

Second, UW sports fans need to get down off their high horse. Typical spin out of Montlake is how horrible other fans (UO, WSU, USC, etc.) are to Husky fans and how such boorish behavior is not part of the UW fan base. After all, they are the "classy" fans in the Pac-12. I can personally attest based on some experiences at UW football games that this is definitely not true. The video from last night adds to the busting of that myth. Remember, I'm not saying other school's fans are not bad at times. I'm just saying, UW fans have no monopoly on good fan behavior...they're just as bad.

Anyway, the game itself was fun. Both teams played well at times and poorly at times, with the outcome in doubt down to the last minute. Congrats to the UW team for pulling out the win, and good luck to them as they advance in the NIT. Meanwhile, Husky fans...think about who and where you boo in the future.

Which Pac-10 Men's B-Ball Team Is the Only One Still Playing?

Guess which Pac-10 men's basketball team is the only one still playing this March?

UW? Nope. Out in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

WSU? Nope. Out in the final four of the NIT.

UCLA, USC or Arizona? Nope. Lost at various stages of the NCAA tournament.

No, all of them are done. In fact, the only team still playing is the University of Oregon Ducks. That's right. You heard it correctly. The Ducks.

OK, that's about as good as the story gets because the tournament they are still alive in - the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) - is a minor tournament to be sure. No way you can compare it to the big stage of the NCAA tournament and it's definately second to even the NIT. So, the Ducks' run through the CBI to the finals and climb to a 20 win season should not be overplayed for more than it is.

But hey, for a team that finished the regular season at .500 and 7th in the Pac-10, playing in the CBI and having a good run into the finals is a chance for more practice and work for a young team. Even if they now lose the last game of the finals, you combine the extended experience and PT with the fact that UO only loses two seniors and adds some highly touted freshmen and JC transfers for next season and the Ducks might be looking pretty dang good for the 2011-2012 season.

Ask Virginia Commonwealth University if the CBI helped them. In case you don't recall, they won the CBI last season and now are in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament.

And for fans of Pac-10 basketball, that's why it might be of interest to know that the Ducks are still playing.