The shameful practice of trash talks

[WinterBorn]

A master of shameful tricks and violations of the rules of boxing.

Oh, so you want them to politely beat each other to a pulp and causing brain injuries?

 

[DGS49]

It is possible to pinpoint the exact time of the introduction of "trash talk" into American sports. Before that time, athletes were told to win or lose with grace and dignity. When they won, they credited their coaches, fans, parents, God, whatever...NEVER focused on themselves. When they lost they would usually congratulate the opponent, and promise to do better next time. The specifics are not important; what is important is the adjectives and descriptors: grace, humility, CLASS.

Trash talk, to be honest, was limited to inner-city basketball playgrounds, where it was part of the culture.

Then one prominent sportsman dared to say, "I AM THE GREATEST!" No need to name the bastard; we all know who he was. At first - it is said - he was mimicking one or two "professional wrestlers," who used to make similar exclamations in the context of that non-sport, but later, seeing how much attention he was getting for his boorishness, it took on a life of its own, nurtured along by that odious sportscaster called Howard Cosell, who insisted that "It's not bragging if you can back it up."

Well.

That was the start. What we have now is what we have.

But the standard REMAINS, win with class, lose with class. Notice those who fail to do so. Scorn them. Trash talk is bullshit. No one with character would do it.