But first, lets be clear on some things:

I didn’t hold K-Rod to any particular standard.

You compared him to John Wooden and Ted Williams. Those would, I think, be particular representatives of what you termed sportsmanship, i.e. the standard you are holding him to.

I think there are a lot of things are different now than 20 or 30 years ago.

Do you believe that type of behavior has improved or become worse over the last 20-30 years? Do you think it was better 20-30 years ago or now?

I think there are many differences now. I don’t think it’s better or worse. Now instead of guys having contempt for their opponents and demanding the batter show proper “respect for” (i.e. “fear of”) the guy on the mound, like Goose Gossage might, some players celebrate. The percentage probably remains the same.

Joe Nathan is K-Rod’s contemporary, but he wasn’t the example you used. I could name Dennis Eckersley or Johnathon Paplebon as counterexamples though.

Not sure where you got the "bygone" impressions

It’s probably the fact that you kept using examples from 40-50 years ago and making references to other things age related, like how another poster could reflect on how things had declined 30-40 years in the future. Did you forget about those?

Your example of professional hockey games I found questionable, given that professional hockey is perhaps the only sport that has actually RITUALIZED the act players of descending into brawling. Sportsmaship to be admired, I’m sure. Major League baseball has at least taken steps to curb this practice in recent years, with some measure of success.

And I like the sportsmanship kids are taught in YMCA leagues, various municipal recreations leagues, grade school, middle and high schools.

An interesting point. Which of those are you suggesting the street urchin brought up by his lone grandmother in a poverty-stricken country run primarily by oil companies and drug lords for the benefit of themselves should have learned sportsmanship from?

I got that impression from what you wrote. Namely:

I realize that society and athletes have changed over the course of time, and there is a "market" for more than a game…fans want a show! I don’t know if that’s making for better competiton at sporting events, but I again acknowledge that I am likely in the miniority…and that "bravado" is here to stay. Just not sure what will constitute excessive bravado, or where it ends. I see NFL players now have special dances for particular types ok sacks. Oh well…there’s the show I suppose the fans want.

Ah well…you can look forward to how “bravado” is expressed in 30-40 years, and perhaps ponder how it’s worse – or better depending on your perspective – than it was in your past. I see no reason that it won’t progress to more provocative behavior…why not? What’s to stop it? Adult opinion/reasoning left the building a long time ago…hey man, if it feels good, do it! Who the F**K are you to tell me it’s wrong! That’s just YOUR opinion…why should anyone care what you think?

These seem to indicate an intense dislike of the present state of sports. If this is an incorrect interpretation, and you were saying nothing of the sort, then I apologize.

I see no reason that it won’t progress to more provocative behavior…why not? What’s to stop it? Adult opinion/reasoning left the building a long time ago…hey man, if it feels good, do it! Who the F**K are you to tell me it’s wrong! That’s just YOUR opinion…why should anyone care what you think?

Sounds like a signaling of the downfall of the game. Or at least the celebratory antics involved with it. For my argument to be a straw man one, you would have to not argue this point. It’s right here. I’m not assigning you beliefs nor values.

And no, I don’t think you think that at all about elder generations. I’m merely stating an a fact that has been true over the course of human history. All people hear the same story from their parents or grandparents about how they how it so hard and how times used to be simpler and people used to be better more upstanding individuals. Its a psychologically conditioned response to aging. Been reinforced time and time again.

The fans are a lot closer to the game now then they were before. Case in point…this blog. There was much more a disconnect between players and fans in the past since the players were revered as some sort of heroes. Today they’re individuals with an extraordinary talent…not a hero. Fans want to be entertained, as does the media. This allows for the antics we see now. Yeah its different. No “sportsmanship” hasn’t deteriorated…just been redefined. Yeah K-Rod’s celebration might be a little over the top, but where you see a bad thing in his antics I just see something I wouldnt do. By all means tone it up. It’s a celebration.