# Now that is classy: RO \[H.S. girls basketball blowout\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 26, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013 "2009-01-26T04:21:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2009, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/161 "2009-01-26T23:36:57Z")
Yes, as I said, basketball can be distinguished from swimming in this particular regard. It isn’t patronizing to slow down the game with a big lead. It’s expected. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/162 "2009-01-27T00:06:36Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > It isn’t patronizing to slow down the game with a big lead. It’s expected. Exactly. It’s expected and sometimes it is self serving. Often when there is a blow out you show respect for the losing team, because you might face them again and if the shots don’t roll your way the next time you don’t want them to have any extra reason to be pumped up about the game. Of course, given the talent difference between the two teams this isn’t a worry. But, that’s no reason to not show more respect for them. If there is no way they could slow down the scoring and they were just playing their best how were they able to end the last 4 minutes of the game without scoring? As Hentor said, before me. But, I think it deserved repeating. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/163 "2009-01-27T00:17:43Z")
> [@Cuckoorex](#): > > As the article I cited on the second page says, there is no mercy rule in high school basketball. And blowouts even worse than this happen with surprising frequency in women’s basketball on many levels of competition. Obviously there is a huge gap in skill level in women’s basketball, and I’m not sure how to address this without basically saying, “OK, you guys are pretty good, you’re in this division, but you guys couldn’t put the ball in the hoop if you were sitting on the backboard, you go in this division.” I understand they don’t have a mercy rule. I’m saying that if blowouts are causing so big a problem that people are getting fired over them, they need to have one. ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/164 "2009-01-27T01:35:03Z")
When I was 12 or so I played soccer like many kids do at that age. It was a rainy afternoon and our game wasn’t canceled. About 5 or so of our players showed up, but a full line of the other team showed up. Our goalie didn’t show up so I took his place since I’m a great team player like that. I was terrible though, having never done it before. After 5 minutes or so it was 10 to nothing in favour of the other team. During a pause, this kid from the other team runs onto the field screaming “Coach says to stop scoring goals.” His route took him passed me and I grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Wasn’t the right thing to do, but I was 12 and didn’t know better so give me a break on that. Someone from the other team tackled me and the coaches broke everything up and the game was called. Even at 12-years-old I was insulted when the other team decided to goof off against us. I was giving my best. The least they could do was give us theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/165 "2009-01-27T01:54:46Z")
> [@Fenris](#): > > Wait–what’s “running up a score”? I’ve never heard the term before. > > My feeling is that one plays to win. If the Dallas Academy team felt they were outclassed, I wouldn’t fault them at all if they threw in the towel and forfeit, but as long as they don’t, the winning team owes the losing team the dignity of treating the losing team as equals by playing their best until the losing team concedes or until the game is over. Amen and amen. I haven’t read past this post ýet and don’t really see how there could bee 4 pages of stuff to say beyond this. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/166 "2009-01-27T02:00:08Z")
And we haven’t even started in on how the coach’s letter is so icky in a cultish sort of way. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/167 "2009-01-27T02:16:06Z")
Don’t worry, eventually all scholastic sports will be changed so there is no winner or loser. We can’t have little Johnny or Janie’s self-esteem hurt because they got beat in a game. Sweet Og, can’t have that. We already hear about schools banning or changing games of competition. Just like schools dropping the “f” grade, or grading at all. Children today are emotionally fragile! You didn’t know that? They must be coddled because they are the future! ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/168 "2009-01-27T02:26:26Z")
Well, somebody let you out of kindergarten after a couple of years, apparently. You’re not grateful? ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/169 "2009-01-27T02:26:55Z")
What did this team gain by blowing out its overmatched opponent? A team that constantly plays full-court press and shoots quickly against a team that offers no resistance may pick up bad habits for their next game (in which their opponent will present more reasonable resistance) and risks injury playing that style. Instead, this team could have reasonably practiced a ball-control offense and a zone defense (different from the “run-and-gun” strategy they’ve already practiced in order to gain their insurmountable advantage), which is legitimate strategy against a team that can defend, dribble, pass, and shoot. The losing team should never expect mercy, but the coach of the winning team, strictly from a strategy standpoint, did his team a disservice by not using the game as a teaching experience. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/170 "2009-01-27T02:47:46Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Camp #1 - Sport is really important. Winning at sport is the most important thing there is. If an NFL team turned out against a pee wee football team, they should try to run up at least 400 points. Did you follow the Washington Redskins this season? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/171 "2009-01-27T02:49:22Z")
If there’s a solution to this, it needs to be in the form of a rule that can be uniformly applied. Make the game an automatic forfeit if the score differential is greater than x at the quarter or half. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/172 "2009-01-27T03:30:10Z")
> [@Klaatu](#): > > We can’t have little Johnny or Janie’s self-esteem hurt because they got beat in a game. Sweet Og, can’t have that. Exactly! And who would dare take away the right of Timmy or Tina to achieve a score of 100 to nothing over some losers? Why, it’s simply unbelievable that they should not take any opportunity to dominate some inferiors - we should never give them the sense that just because they can do something there is any reason that they shouldn’t. > [@](#): > > Children today are emotionally fragile! You didn’t know that? > > They must be coddled because they are the future! Exactly! They should be taught to never, ever, ever take your boot off your opponent’s neck. Kick 'em when they’re up, kick 'em when they’re down. ---
**Author:** ![Klaatu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Klaatu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Klaatu)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/173 "2009-01-27T04:17:29Z")
It’s a fucking game. Most games have a winner and a loser. So what if they got beat 100-0. If this bullshit somehow traumatizes some of these kids, then they are woefully unprepared to endure adulthood. You play to win. That’s the fucking point of a game which has a winner or loser. Running up the score in a fucking game doesn’t make a coach an asshole in everyday life. Fucking christ, you people get outraged about anything. We are raising a generation of whiny little self-entitled pussies. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/174 "2009-01-27T04:29:56Z")
“Pussies” is an interesting pejorative given the context. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/175 "2009-01-27T04:34:35Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Amen and amen. I haven’t read past this post ýet and don’t really see how there could bee 4 pages of stuff to say beyond this. Yeah…four pages…obviously hit a nerve. But…what’s really outrageous is that the losing team has been _rewarded_ for their sad performance. Check out the stories. Poor little things. Bless their little hearts. Now they get tickets to basketball games, they’re on TV. This will certainly teach them to strive for excellence in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@Picard\_Kills\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Picard_Kills_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/176 "2009-01-27T04:45:20Z")
Ha! Next thing you read from that school is that teachers are getting fired to trying to get their students to excel and do their best on their ACTs and SATs. Reporter: “Even though the state average is only a 1040 on their SAT, teachers at this school were urging kids to score well above 1200! Neighboring schools are appalled at this approach and calling for the mandatory firing of any teacher who urges students to go above and beyond.” ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/177 "2009-01-27T04:54:25Z")
Would any of you like to show us a picture of how hairy your chest was in middle school? If not, you might actually read the thread and see that almost nobody has any problem with one school scoring a resounding victory against another, or with winners and losers, or with striving for fucking excellence (? really? Is this an exposition scene in _Karate Kid_ setting up Cobra Kai’s downfall?) and that in fact the issue here is whether there’s any room for some kind of nuanced approach to the winding up of a blowout. You know, like adults think about sometimes. If not, could one of you tell me a story about how you totally got to second base on Saturday? Or do you just want to smoke some cigs and pound on some nerds? ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/178 "2009-01-27T04:58:38Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Yes, as I said, basketball can be distinguished from swimming in this particular regard. > > It isn’t patronizing to slow down the game with a big lead. It’s expected. That may be the case in basketball, but that wasn’t where I was coming from, so your assumptions as to my motives were incorrect, is all I’m sayin. There seem to be a lot of other people who agree with me that watching the other team goof off while you’re doing your best is a worse kind of insult. Your mileage obviously varies. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/179 "2009-01-27T05:01:55Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > in fact the issue here is whether there’s any room for some kind of nuanced approach to the winding up of a blowout. You know, like adults think about sometimes. There’s a nice approach in rugby – play to win as resounding a victory as possible, but then party with your opponents after. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013/180 "2009-01-27T05:05:20Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > That may be the case in basketball, but that wasn’t where I was coming from, so your assumptions as to my motives were incorrect, is all I’m sayin. > > There seem to be a lot of other people who agree with me that watching the other team goof off while you’re doing your best is a worse kind of insult. Your mileage obviously varies. We’re talking about basketball in this thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/now-that-is-classy-ro-h-s-girls-basketball-blowout/483013.md?page=10)