Lamenting all of the 'lost art' of sports
Jocks are never at a loss for words when it comes to what was better in the old days, from proper tackling to base running to respect for elders
/ From left, Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki tries to bunt; the Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posts up against Robert Parish; and Chiefs defensive back Jalil Brown tackles Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate.
By Ethan J. Skolnick
NBCSports.com contributor
updated 3:25 a.m. ET Sept. 11, 2012
It’s the familiar, if occasionally irritating, refrain of elders everywhere, in reference to just about anything.
Back in my day …
Back in my day, this or that or the other thing was much different, and much better.
So what makes former athletes nostalgic for their particular good old days?
Plenty.
Jocks are never at a loss for words when you ask them about lost arts in their respective sports.
“Route running is a lost art,” Tim Brown said.
He’s more than qualified to judge. Brown followed his Heisman Trophy by catching 1,094 passes in the NFL, all but 24 for the Oakland Raiders.
“As I watch my sport and my position, they don’t run routes anymore,” said Brown, who was listed at an even 6-foot tall. “The receivers are 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, and the defensive backs are 5-10. They are just bigger and faster and stronger than the guys they are going against, and they are just outmuscling them for the ball and moving on. You don’t see anybody running a 15-yard out, and making a guy go one way when he goes the other way.”
Joe Theismann, who threw for 25,206 yards for the Washington Redskins, has observed the same. In fact, the first time he was asked this question, he cited “running good pass routes” as the “the one thing that has escaped this profession.”
“I don’t think guys work very hard on their releases,” Theismann said. “Because, after five yards, you can’t touch me.”
Of course, after about a year, when posed the same question, Theismann cited a different complaint first. He pointed to communication as a lost NFL art, largely due to the inarguable advances made in technology and strategy.
“Because of the communicators in the helmet, and the complexity and multiplicity of offenses, it’s difficult for coaches to take the time to talk to their quarterback about something,” Theismann said. “But more importantly, it’s almost impossible for a quarterback to have a conversation with any of his teammates in the huddle. Because by the time he gets the play, he has to regurgitate it, break the huddle, get to the line of scrimmage, and make all the changes that are necessary.”
Theismann argues that if a quarterback wants a receiver to modify a route, “he doesn’t have time to tell him. He doesn’t have time to explain what he wants him to do why he wants him to do it. I think that’s the biggest thing in the game. Technology can hurt things as much as help them. When it comes to human beings doing something, technology can enhance your physical performance, but it can’t do anything for the mental part of it.”
Jerome Bettis has a more rudimentary reason to grumble.
There’s not enough rumbling.
Jim Rogash / Getty Images The nation grieved for those hurt, killed and affected by the Boston Marathon bombings. After one of the suspects was caught on Friday — following a day-long lockdown and manhunt — sports returned to Boston over the weekend. |
Lost art?
“Power football,” said the burly man known as The Bus, one whose 13,662 rushing yards rank sixth in NFL history. “I mean, it’s non-existent. Two tight ends, two backs, and just pound the ball. Nobody does it. Nobody does it anymore. So, I mean, it’s lost. And the problem is, it starts in the colleges. When the colleges are going to this one-back, spread it out stuff.”
Dan Reeves believes the roots of his top gripe go back further.
“Tackling,” said Reeves, who participated in nine Super Bowls as a head coach, assistant coach or player. “And you can’t work on it. They don’t work on it in high school. In high school, we had 20 days of spring practice. All we did was hit, and now they’re scared to death. It’s tough to get insurance. They don’t hit in college. The only time they tackle is in a game. It’s still blocking and tackling, but I just think tackling is something that we’ve lost. You can’t work on it, so how do you improve it?”
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