Sports Opinion
Dripping Springs got a two-year reprieve from having a 6A label for a final stint in 5A Div I. The UIL announced the cutoff numbers last week and the Tigers were the fourth largest area school in Div I. Now the final UIL project is to find schools to fill those districts. For 5A, the problem is two-fold. They must fill football districts with teams of enrollments that fall into the two divisions. Secondly, they have to form districts, without the restraints of enrollments, for all the other sports. It is possible, but highly unlikely, a school can be in two entirely different districts. Speculation always runs rampant until the questions are answered in the first week of February. The schools in and around Austin area with Div I numbers are Austin Anderson, Leander, Hays Johnson, Hendrickson, Cedar Park, Manor, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Pflugerville Weiss and Dripping Springs. If DS does not land with these, then there will probably be some very long trips to find teams. Dripping Springs has always been the center of the circle and have been in districts with teams all around the Austin area and beyond, so we never know. That is, until February.
Is it just me looking for it or is good sportsmanship gestures becoming more common? As I watch games at all levels, I seem to see many instances of players helping each other up after a good play, not lording it over the other, actually talking with friendly gestures, visiting after the game and in general just playing the game as it should be played. Players should know what it takes to execute a play well and respect the player being able to do so at the time. I have always disliked the commentators and others that continue to blurt out that the two teams just plain hate each other because I just do not believe it to be true. Oh sure, there are teams one really wants to defeat over others but hating someone will not do that for you. You have to outplay them. The fact is that in all levels there are players on both teams that have been teammates and friends before and that friendship remains.
It is a practice I have not approved of for decades. To me it is just being rude and abusive toward the guests (fans) at the game. That is playing ear-damaging noise during the times the game is not being played, especially during warmups. There is no way the decibel level is of legal numbers, especially in confined buildings. Guests come to these events expecting to watch the game and visit with friends, not be abused by sound. Conversation cannot take place without screaming or at the least, being able to read lips. My suggestion is if the players think they can only warm up with the aid of deaf-inducing noise, then purchase ear buds and play them as loud as you like and allow the fans the peace and quiet they deserve. If you want noise, then play well and your guests will reward you with cheers of approval.