What's good for the goose, is good for the gander?

Question

Every sport has nuances or behaviors that are indigenous to that sport.

But some might argue that if players can act/behave a certain way in one sport....why isn't it acceptable behavior in another sport, as well? After all, it's a SPORT, a competition. Why different rules of behavior for different sports?

Example:

Aggrresive trash talking is common and acceptable in basketball, football, boxing, et.al.

So, why not the same in golf or tennis?

Why are rules of "sportsmanship" different for these "gentleman's" games?

Would it be better or more exciting, say in golf, if players could intentionally distract their opponents?

At the top of Tiger's swing, yell just before his downswing; or on a crucial putt, yell "miss it" just before his downstroke?

Or in tennis, jump up & down & wave your arms during your opponent's 2nd serve?

Or If you slam a shot into opponent's chest, don't apologize, flip 'em off and tell 'em "get out the way, next time!"

What about it?

Answer 1

Haha if you really wanna integrate the aggressiveness of basketball and football with the mental concentration and skill level that it takes to play pro golf, go for it.  I can guarantee that if you talked trash to tiger, he would just destroy you like he does when people talk trash through the media, for example steven ames 10-8.  The biggest difference between Golf and the other sports such as baseball, basketball, football, etc.. is the fact that golf is not played with emotion like the others.  Golf is not an emotion-based sport.  Its a mental gymnastics sport.  If you or someone else were to talk trast to pro golfers, they would probably post the same numbers with little deviation.  When they are in the zone, nothing bothers them.  When they start to struggle, thats when you see blowups...

Answer 2

You see true trash talking in team sports. A sport where if your trash talking doesn't work out you've got 8 or 9 other people you can blame it on. Who gives a c**p about boxing anyway? If someone didn't talk trash in boxing no one would say anything.

Golf has so much tradition it's difficult talking trash in a plaid shirt and shorts.

Answer 3

I think trying to distract a golfer when they are trying to strike the ball, is like being a streaker at a soccer, football, baseball game and they should be aggressively taken care of. I don't think anybody in the game of golf would ever stoop to that level, because they know that absolute concentration is necessary for a quality golf shot.

Answer 4

Leave golf the way it is.

Answer 5

Your first mistake was labeling football, basketball and boxing "gentlemen's games".  Golf is one of the few gentlemen's games left.  But having said that, I've have acted ungentlemanly on the course before.  I got hit in the ribs by a guy's tee shot on a one-hopper from the next fairway over while addressing my ball for my second shot.  No one in the group of four ever yelled "fore".  So, I calmy walked to the cart and pulled out a tee and my driver.  I teed up his ball and crushed it about 300 yards in the opposite direction.  When one of his buddies popped off at the mouth, it almost turned into fist-to-cuffs.  Now, I didn't HAVE to act like I did, but they could've yelled fore, too.