I think figure skating jumped the shark when Nancy Kerrigan insulted Mickey Mouse.
I guess I’m an old fart, but I think free agency and liberal trading has “traded the Babe” for the big 4 pro sports (hockey, baseball, football, basketball).
I gave up on the Rangers in '94, not because of the strike itself, but because I realized I didn’t actually have a team to commit to. Right now, even as they march toward the cup, I’m finding it hard to be genuinely passionate about the Stars. Only about 4 of the current roster was on the '99 cup team; about 2/3 of the team was here at the start of the season.
One post mentions the Cowboys - a good example. When I was a kid with exception of a few end-of-year retirements and 2 or 3 incoming rookies, during the Shramm-Landry years, it was the same team year in and year out, all season long. Bob Lily, Lee Roy Jordan, Roger Staubach, Tony Dorsett, etc., were always Cowboys. It really was us vs. them.
Free agency and wanton trading simply amount to fantasy sports for billionaires with fans paying the high ticket costs. (Lower level, blue line at a Stars home game is about $200 per ticket!) And, I think the decline in fan attendance in sports, especially baseball, is largely attributable to the fans not really having a team to commit to that reciprocates the commitment.
Quite frankly, although I follow the Stars fairly faithfully, their cup seems “store-bought”, whereas those Schramm-Landry Lombardi trophies are priceless treasures.
Hrmm… I like “Sold the Babe”, but I also really like “Bit the ear”. Thinking about it; although his popularity has, Tyson’s career hasn’t “Jumped the shark” yet, so that may not be fitting.
To be fair, the Red Sox have been competitive (even great) several times since they sold the Bambino. But Tyson, despite what some of the sanctioning bodies have claimed in their rankings, has not been a viable heavyweight contender since the ear biting. (Actually, he really hasn’t been the dominant Iron Mike since his prison sentence, but “raped the beauty queen” is pretty tasteless and probably wouldn’t catch on)
Another good “Jumped the Shark”-type phrase would be “Banned the Goat.” Cubs fans know what I’m talking about.
LOL!
Emmitt Smith certainly sold the Babe when he signed with the Cardinals. What was he thinking? What’s wrong with riding off into the sunset while you’re still on top and have your dignity?
lorinada–ask Michael Jordan. Why we couldn’t just remember him pushing off Bryon Russell to win title #6 is beyond me.