A Wintery Touchdown Celebration

1. Easy
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:02 pm

   I don't get it. I don't watch American Footy and I don't really understand the rules but... how is making a snow angel unsportsmanlike?

2. Jake D.
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:04 pm

   You can't go to the ground for a celebration, I guess. It was a very unsportsmanlike snow angel.

   It's ridiculous that they had to make penalties for stuff like that.

3. violet/riga
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:12 pm

   Forget the players, seeing the crowd acting like that and throwing so much stuff just makes the sport look like a joke.

4. Johnny Cat
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:17 pm

   I've been unhappy with this rule since it came out. As long as it doesn't turn into a dance routine, as long as it only takes a few seconds to do, it should be allowed. It's a game, people. Have fun.

5. Andrew Wirtanen
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:21 pm

   This is a Patriot tradition started by Lonie Paxton in '01-'02! It's sad that this is unsportsmanlike now. It was stupid to do it knowing that the celebration rules have changed.

6. becca
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:29 pm

   I thought it was wicked cute and it really bummed me out to see that he got a penalty for it.

7. SenorMysterioso
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:39 pm

   That was fine, the ref should have let it go.

8. Easy
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:47 pm

   Can't go to the ground for a celebration? Strange rule. It just reminded me of a funny quote by some Rugby commentator once:

   "I don't like this new law, because your first instinct when you see a man on the ground is to go down on him"

9. Johnny Cat
   December 21st, 2008 at 8:57 pm

   LOL Easy

10. Nathan Miller
    December 21st, 2008 at 9:08 pm

    What bothers me is not the rule that excessive celebration is unsportsmanlike, but that there's no room for creativity. If there were, then Wes Welker would have still gotten 15 yards, (and likely 5-15 thousand dollars fines) but it would have encouraged him to be more original.

    Lonie Paxton's snow angels were trademark, but they are also well-known.

    T.O.'s popcorn-in-the-face or Maurice Jones-Drew's ATM withdrawal - these are funny. These, the NFL should let slide... once.

    But all in all, it proves that the NFL really is the No Fun League.

11. chickmagnetstuff
    December 21st, 2008 at 11:40 pm

    yeah I agree I don't think they should make penalties for that

12. Dave
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:29 am

    He tripped; I saw it. That angel tripped him. No penalty.

    Unsportsmanlike conduct my @®$3.

13. Barm
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 am

    I think what Wes Welker did was absolutely fine.

    I also think he absolutely should have been penalized, and he knew he was going to be before he did it. It was a clear violation.

    T.O.'s popcorn to the face was great, and also completely deserved a penalty.

    You can't selectively enforce the rules just because you thought someone was funny.

14. Claire Chiang
    December 22nd, 2008 at 1:40 am

    I too, think he should have been penalized. It's definitely not funny to me, because it's just not my type of sense of humor. I definitely vote for justice before humor.

15. CJ
    December 22nd, 2008 at 1:45 am

    http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=lMWcUfzJhkQ&NR=1

16. Evilbeagle
    December 22nd, 2008 at 4:05 am

    Compared to some of the old touchdown celebrations I have seen, this is nothing. I agree with Johnny Cat. As long as it isn't some two minute long dance routine there shouldn't be a problem. They really sucked some of the fun out of the game with the rule.

17. Teaflax
    December 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am

    How could anyone - anyone - consider that rude? You'd have to have some serious personal issues to be bothered by something like that.

18. gtron
    December 22nd, 2008 at 10:05 am

    what about the guy on another team who went down on one knee and looked to heaven? (yesterday too). that could be considered offensive by MANY, to bring religion into it... but a snow angel is somehow worse?! sure they have to curtail it otherwise it gets out of hand, but a snow angel? in the snow?!

19. Allison
    December 22nd, 2008 at 10:25 am

    Doesn't it seem very Grinch-like to outlaw snow angels?

20. Justin
    December 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am

    violet/riga are you serious? The crowd was tossing snow around and nothing else. If you are seen throwing trash on the field or at other fans they will kick you out.

21. WaitWhat
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:14 pm

    violet/riga - It was snowing like crazy during the entire game, and whenever NE scores everyone throws snow up in the air like confetti. It's called fun.

22. Leif
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    A moral debate over a snow angel?
    Spare me.
    It was funny and fun. It's football, not neuro surgery.

23. Barm
    December 22nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm

    Why would a moral debate about neurosurgery instead of football be more fitting?

24. Christophe
    December 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    The referee did his duty. Period.

    Anyway : GO PATS!

25. Woogie
    December 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    Crap like that is why I don't watch the NFL. A penalty for an innocuous celebration like that? The NFL are douchebags.

26. avraamov
    December 22nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    as an englishman, i would understand class on fluid dynamics in cambodian more than this.

27. liphttam1
    December 22nd, 2008 at 7:45 pm

    I don't enjoy watching sports. I'm in new england but could care less if we won.

    I agree with woogie.

28. sam
    December 22nd, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    Ha. wow. Pro sports are retarded.

29. Rocky Rook
    December 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    That is awesome! The 15 yards was so worth it! Like the Pats were concerned in that game ... who cares.

30. yibbuz
    December 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am

    They should have continued to do it on every touchdown after that, just to show contempt for the referees.

31. John Hopper
    December 23rd, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    Makign a snow angel is 'unsportsman-like'? Man, in MotoGP, after various wins, Valintino Rossi has:
    Whipped out a Doctor costume and performed an 'examination' of his bike
    Pretended to be a bowling ball and bowled himself into 10 fans dressed as bowling pins
    And a dozen other things I don't know of in addition to wheelies, burnouts, etc.
    Not to mention giving Biaggi the bird while going around a corner at 90mph.

    I don't think they are unsportsman like, just over the top.
    Seems silly to me, just make a 5 second rule and leave it at that.

32. Neil
    January 2nd, 2009 at 7:33 am

    This reminds me of a story about the Australian, NBL (National Basketball Leauge) in its heyday.

    After a bad call call made to one player he asked
    "Hey Ref, can i get a tech-foul for what i'm thinking"??

    The ref replied "No of course you can't"

    Player then responds "OK...I think you're an A$$hole"
    .........................................................

    Let the boys play, and celebrate a little

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