The Catalyst

By Rommel McClaney, Reporter

When the football was first spiked down in the endzone after-the-touchdown celebration in 1968 by New York Giants wide receiver Homer Jones, the victory dance has been a pivotal action in football. Celebration is important whether it’s spiking the ball, shining shoes, dunking the ball on an object other than a basketball hoop, or maybe even performing an assortment of gymnastics.

The victory dance is a time for an athlete to celebrate his or her amazing skill in their sport. Unfortunately, the victory dance has become known as “excessive or extreme taunting” because of it’s over use. Now, the more respectable athletes who just want to celebrate their skill can expect not only a good, or bad, crowd reception but thousands of dollars in fines as well.

About 60 seconds for an athlete to entertain the crowd with some sort of comedic or unusual act is fair. If it’s longer then 60 seconds, you are just being obnoxious and wasting everyone’s time. No doubt you are an impressive athlete but there still is a game going on. So keep it short.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco is well known for his excessive celebrations. One memorable celebration is when the Oregon State grad picked up an endzone pylon and putted the ball into an imaginary hole. This was followed by him pumping his fist and imitating the famous golfer Eldrick Woods (That is Tiger Wood’s real first for those who don’t know). Chad Johnson you do not entertain me.

The diamond sign, most commonly associated with Roc-A-Fella records, is a celebration most notable by Chiefs running back Larry Johnson. Mr. Johnson, are you Jay-Z? Are you a rap artist? No, you are not. You’re an athlete.

In 2006, the NFL made an attempt to cut back on celebrations by instituting an automatic 15 yard penalty rule for any player who leaves his feet or uses a prop. This is too firm of a rule for this game. Talent should be celebrated in any form as long as it’s not so over the top. Fans need a little riling up and entertainment from the players now and then. If a quarterback wants to do the funky chicken after a 30 yard touchdown pass, he shouldn’t be fined $100,000. If a running back rushes for a 46 yard touchdown, there should be no 15 yard penalty for jumping into the crowd and doing the Electric Slide.

As long as players don’t become too excessive and overdue the celebrations then maybe athletes won’t be punished so hard. I doubt this article will change this rule but if it does, I might even do a victory dance myself.