The other night when the USL kick to the back occurred, the chatbox was going a bit nuts asking why his team didn't pounce the guy. I hold that it's such a shock, you don't have the reaction when you're in the moment.
Why do I believe this? It happened to my team while on the field in high school baseball. Now, I have to preface this by explaining that where I grew up, high school sports were HUGE. We averaged 5k a game for football in a town with a pop. of 1800. I never lost before state semis in football or baseball. So, Glory Days...
Back to the weird: south state playoffs, early innings. Lumberton High had this massive linebacker-looking type outfielder (I'm talke 6'3", 215 easy) reach first. He tries to steal second during the next AB, and our catcher throws him out by 4 steps. Well, this cat doesn't even attempt to slide. We had a little sophomore 2B who probably weight 150 lbs, and this guy just runs over him, knocking him to the ground, and he then proceeds to start pounding him with closed fist punches. I was playing first, but neither me nor any other player or umpire in the infield even moved to defend him. The only person who ran in to stop it was our 2B's dad, an assistant coach. And he bolted out of the dugout. I contend the different perspective afforded by paternal instinct was the difference.
I'm sure had it gone on a split second more, we would have all come to our senses and piled onto the guy. But the typical athlete just isn't wired in a way that allows you to respond instantly to something so outside the realm of the expected. Take the same play and move it to home plate, and you have an immediate bench clearing. But since it happened at second on a routine and not even close throw out, it literally blew our minds beyond being able to act.
That's my wild and crazy sports story. I'd be curious to hear what weird shit others have experienced.
Why do I believe this? It happened to my team while on the field in high school baseball. Now, I have to preface this by explaining that where I grew up, high school sports were HUGE. We averaged 5k a game for football in a town with a pop. of 1800. I never lost before state semis in football or baseball. So, Glory Days...
Back to the weird: south state playoffs, early innings. Lumberton High had this massive linebacker-looking type outfielder (I'm talke 6'3", 215 easy) reach first. He tries to steal second during the next AB, and our catcher throws him out by 4 steps. Well, this cat doesn't even attempt to slide. We had a little sophomore 2B who probably weight 150 lbs, and this guy just runs over him, knocking him to the ground, and he then proceeds to start pounding him with closed fist punches. I was playing first, but neither me nor any other player or umpire in the infield even moved to defend him. The only person who ran in to stop it was our 2B's dad, an assistant coach. And he bolted out of the dugout. I contend the different perspective afforded by paternal instinct was the difference.
I'm sure had it gone on a split second more, we would have all come to our senses and piled onto the guy. But the typical athlete just isn't wired in a way that allows you to respond instantly to something so outside the realm of the expected. Take the same play and move it to home plate, and you have an immediate bench clearing. But since it happened at second on a routine and not even close throw out, it literally blew our minds beyond being able to act.
That's my wild and crazy sports story. I'd be curious to hear what weird shit others have experienced.