In most sports when a team has an insurmountable lead they either put their starters on the bench, or slow things down and try to run out the clock, or in some cases both. When the New England Patriots have a huge lead they'll continue to shove their dominance down their opponents throats, while their starters pad their stats. In recent weeks running up the score has been a hot debate. Today I will determine if running up the score is Serious or Delirious.
Serious
- Professional athlete's are paid ridiculous amounts of money to give a 100% effort, and to put on a show for the fans. Just because a team has a big lead does it mean they should slow things down and not try as hard? Not at all. If I dish out a few hundred dollars to go to a sporting event, I want to see these guys giving it their all, no matter what the score is. Fans don't pay money to see no-named back ups play.
- When Patriots owner Robert Craft gives out millions of dollars a season to a guy like Tom Brady it's not so he can play two and a half quarters then spend the rest of the game on the bench. An owner wants to get his money's worth. If Tom Brady was benched whenever the Patriots had a big lead, he probably wouldn't be well on his way setting the most touchdown passes in a season record.
- Remember the old saying from when you were a kid – 'It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game'. Well, that's not true in pro sports. Winning is everything. A team should try to beat the living crap out of another team. What are they supposed to do? Get a comfortable lead then take it easy on the other team out of respect? I don't think so. Athletes are there to compete their hardest for their teams.
- There are many historic comebacks in the history of sports. During those comebacks, teams have come back to win when the other had a big lead. This is a great example of why teams should run up the score. Why risk putting your back ups in to make mistakes and cause an embarrassing loss? As we all know momentum can play a major role in any sporting event, and teams should try their hardest not to give it to the other team.
Delirious
- So what happens if the Patriots decide to leave Brady in when their up by 24 and he breaks his arm and is done for the season. Running up the score would look pretty stupid then wouldn't it? Major injuries to the sports best players happen everyday, and teams should take every precaution to see that they don't happened. Leaving your best players in the game when it's nearly impossible for the other team to come back is extremely risky.
- Athletes with huge ego's don't like to be disrespected. In baseball if a team is running up the score, the pitcher throws at the hitter. In basketball, a flagrant foul. In hockey, a dirty check. Running up the score gives the losing team extra incentive to try to hurt the one's who are laying down the beating. A bench clearing brawl or slapping match in basketball can be fun to watch, but usually it makes the sport and the players involved looks bad.
- Ever get excited to watch a big game, then the next thing ya know... Bamm! it's 46 to 10! What's the fun in that? Whether you beat a team by 1 point or 30 points it still looks the exact same in the standings. What's the point of humiliating another team beyond believe? Coaches, players, and fans remember things, and most likely it could come back to bite ya. There's a thing that used to exist in sport, but I forget it's name??? Oh yeah! Sportsmanship.
Final Verdict-Both sides present very valid arguments. The bottom line is, if your team is getting beat worse than a gay man starring at Tim Hardaway in a shower, the players and the coaches aren't doing their jobs. There's absolutely nothing wrong with running up the score in professional sports. If a team is willing to risk injury, then it's their right to do whatever they want as long as they don't break the rules. Teams who complain, or result to dirty tactics to teams who are blowing them out simply need to suck it up, and get better. Mercy rules exist in tee-ball, not the big leagues. Running up the score is SERIOUS!
-Joe Osborne
