By Raul Rangel (Twitter)
SAN ANTONIO, TX, March 23, 2012 – The art of sportsmanship prior to competition has been shown many times in the sports world. Whether it is a handshake, hug, or the occasional slap on the ass, it’s been customary in different sports to perform this customary gesture as a nod to good will, fair play, and sportsmanship prior to getting on with the competition. Sometimes, these moments of civility even happen in the middle of a game. Defensive players in the NFL viciously tackle their opponents then turn around and help right back up. This is nothing new at all, and it’s more than fair. There will always be a place for sportsmanship on the field of play, no matter what sport it is.
But as it relates to combat sports in particular, has it become a little bit too much?
Take the case of boxer Victor Ortiz. In his last fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr, Victor was unceremoniously knocked out after he apologized for the fourth time following an illegal headbutt. After the fight, people were more outraged at Floyd than they were at Ortiz for knocking him out as they were hugging. It was such a bizarre situation that it left viewers bewildered, calling the bout a fix, if not simply left to complain about the bizarre actions of both fighters in the ring, namely Oriz – who was more interested in connecting with his opponent on an emotional level rather than a physical one. Did he take the easy money? One may never know but it’s definitely left to debate whether his apologetic actions in the middle of a prize fight may have just been a little inappropriate.
Now more recently, it comes out that a female fighter in MMA named Shiela Gaff has broken the unspoken rule of hitting her opponent immediately following the customary glove touch at the beginning of the fight. Now this isn’t anything new. There have been plenty of amateur and pro fights where this has happened. Sure it may seem like a chicken shit thing to do, but it is legal. As the old saying goes, “protect yourself at all times.”
I’m starting to think there’s really not a place for the glove touch after the fight has started.
The bell starts the round, not the touch of gloves. As a fighter, one has the chance to offer a handshake prior to the beginning of the fight, whether it be when you enter the cage or during weigh-ins or any time prior to the point where you’re supposed to be knocking each others’ head off. Then when a fight is all said and done, by all means show all the sportsmanship you want. It’s usually better afterward anyways. That’s when most fans want to see two guys display some level of camaraderie and civility after they’ve just gotten done trying to knock each others’ block off.
My point is that MMA (and maybe a few other combat sports) appears to be the only sport where athletes show these gestures (glove touches, etc.) after competition has already started. You don’t really see the same thing in other sports in times where play is in session. Players don’t hug it out before every down on the football field and Michael Jordan never went around giving opposing players daps while he was trying to kill them on the basketball court. And Rocky Marciano certainly did not shake Joe Louis hands before smashing his face in the middle of the round. Maybe we should get back to that then shake hands after the fight. If nothing else, it would certainly prevent a little controversy like the one with these two women earlier this week.
What do you guys think about the glove touch? Any comments from our readers? Feel free to share your thoughts.
