Being a red-blooded American there are a few things that raise the hackles of WC11 like no other. People talking on their cells phones while checking out at a store, taking away excellent parking spots for a bike rack that nobody uses (that's another story), junk mail, but one of the worst in my book is flopping. Yes, flopping. It's so un-American that I have a hard time watching basketball with the proliferation of flopping that has infiltrated our borders from overseas.
Yes, flopping and acting like you're dying on the field has been part of soccer for decades (and the main reason I don't watch the sport) and you may think that flopping is a newer phenomenon that has only been infecting the world of basketball for only the past few years. However, while Wildcat11 was cleaning up some archived video flies the other night I came across an example of flopping in FOOTBALL in 1998 that made me sick to my stomach that I felt a little piece of America had to have died on that night.
In 1998 Linfield was hanging onto a tight 24-23 lead over the host University of Redlands Bulldogs late in the 4th quarter. Deep in Bulldog territory on 3rd down a pass attempt was tipped at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete but Wildcat Linebacker Joe Pate benignly hit Redlands Wide Receiver Danny Ragsdale as Pate saw Ragsdale was the intended target and was trying to break up the potential reception.
It was a nothing hit but Ragsdale fell to the turf like he was just shot with a sniper bullet and laid on the turf motionless. The ref fell for this colossal flop threw the Personal Foul flag that extended the Redlands drive. The worst part is that Ragsdale didn't drag himself off the field with a limp or holding his head and then sprint back on the field on the next play. Nope, this guy had the moxie to actually jump back on his feet and high-step it back to the huddle while looking back at his bench basically saying "I can't believe the Ref bought that total drama queen act" right in front of the official!
I'm just proud to know that we at Linfield don't flop and that's part of the reason the 'Cats still hold a 5-0 record over Redlands. So when you see flopping in college basketball or the NBA just know that this ugly trend didn't happen on the hardwood but on the gridiron on that September night in 1998 by a faking little WR named Danny Ragsdale.
14 comments:
A ball that is tipped cannot draw a pass interference penalty, am I correct? You may be twice as upset knowing SCIAC refs doubly screwed the Cats.
Anonymous,
Had to correct the blog there...they called a personal foul and not a PI. Never trusted the SCIAC officals and still don't! :)
Cats won the game-- I was there--thats all that matters !!
Phone it in
Normally I despise flops as much as the next guy. I play soccer and I have to hold myself back from violently confronting people when they flop. However, this flop is just magical. It is beautiful. You can see that the wide receiver's soul is crushed and he is broken. Then magically he arises from the dead, fresh and ready to fight again. Its so bad, so incredibly bad that it is good.
That looks like a footie flop, not a football flop. Read more about footie and mexarabs: www.mexarab.com.
Anonymous,
The only thing that was missing was someone running on the field and hitting him with that magic spray they use in soccer when guys are laid out. It's still Incredible.
That was a vicious late hit. Good call ref. Wildcats are notoriously dirty players.
You're livin' too much in '82. Did you used to be able to throw a pigskin a quarter mile? I bet you can't even throw a football over them mountains.
You could've gone pro. You'd be soakin' it up in a hot tub with your soul mate.
That hit was dirty and should have been a 30 yard penalty. That "flopper" went on to win D3 player of the year and have a better pro career than any Linfield player ever has. You dirty pacific north westerners would never have the heart to be bulldogs. Go hug a tree.
Truth,
Awesome. BTW, what was the Linfield/Redlands score the year the flopper won the Gag Trophy?
What country do these two teams play in again? I've never heard of these places for football, basketball academics or otherwise? Maybe they're part of the northwest territory...oh wait, thats canada, well, all canadians secretly want to be americans, so yeah, thats probably right...although the highlight could barely pass for a football game, canadian or otherwise....
I played six years of indoor ball both with and against Danny. Stop calling that a "pro" career. Most of us had other full-time jobs and simply used that as a means to extend somewhat above average playing careers.
Are we sure his name isn't Danny Ragdoll?
Post a Comment