[Tech]

http://www.enquirerjournal.com/artic...s/sports55.txt

When written rules are broken, punishment follows.

It's a basic tenet in sports, and one we see practiced nearly every day.

What we don't often see, and frankly, what I can't ever recall seeing, is a punishment for breaking unwritten rules. But that appears to be what took place at Central Cabarrus High this past week.

Softball coach Monte Sherrill was suspended by the school for two games after his team, which is ranked fourth in the nation by USA Today, beat West Charlotte, 55-0, on April 15.

Go ahead and read that score again; it's not a typo. And to make matters worse, the game lasted just two innings (two innings!) before West Charlotte's athletic director asked officials to end it.

According to a published report, the coach and athletic director at Central Cabarrus won't comment on the game or the suspension, but the West Charlotte athletic director said Central Cabarrus continued to play aggressively as the Vikings scored 30 runs in the first inning and 25 more in the second.

apparently it's against the rules for your team to try their hardest to win

[jeff25]

that's retarded. call the game when the score gets out of hand if you want, but don't suspend the coach for coaching in a blowout. as far as easing up on an opponent when they are losing badly as a sign of sportsmanship, i can't count the number of games (in many different sports) i've seen where team A is destroying team B, then team A eases up, puts in the backups and the coach starts trying to run out the clock (or equivalent strategy). Then team B makes a miraculous comeback and while everyone is talking about how great it was that team B never quit i'm left wondering why team A allowed the comeback situation to even be possible in the first place. shaking hands after the game is good sportsmanship, helping a guy up you've just knocked down is good sportsmanship, playing by the rules is good sportsmanship. easing up on an opponent is playing a game dishonestly, insofar as you are not giving your best effort. if leagues are so concerned about embarrassment, then expand the mercy rules.

sorry that turned into a bit of a rant. :01226: personally i think respecting your opponent means to always treat him as an equal, even if you're well ahead of him. and an equal always deserves your best effort.