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The evolution of trash talking...

I always wondered why people talk trash so much in regard to sports. Warren Sapp appears to be the undisputed king of trash talking. He has often been seen standing over his victims spewing taunts about what horrific damage he has done to them after he hits them. I always thought that this was perhaps the machismo of high paid professional athletes, and the lax standards of sportsmanship that the NFL allows. But, while helping coach Devons JV youth football league team I see that the trash talk starts much earlier. In fact, you needn't be a superstar who always performs, you only need to do one good thing at any given time to talk trash. You could be the kind of receiver who ordinarily couldn't catch a cold, but if you happen to catch a pass and get by the corner back then you have license to talk trash. Here are some of the things that I have heard uttered on the field by nine and ten year olds.

Runningack: I shook you like a wet puppy!

Quarterback: Get up off me, rookie!

One player: (out loud to nobody in particular) Why can't I run this route correctly?
trash talker: Because you're a fag.

After one player fumbled three consecutive handoffs during drill the head coach made the offense run. When they were returning to the huddle one child whispered to the offending player: We have to run because you suck....I can't stand you, you old punk ass muthafucka!

While one of the tailbacks watched a lineman running a 100 yard sprint he turned to his buddy and said, "You don't need a stopwatch for him, you need a calendar."

One Player: My mom tackles harder than you.
Trash Talker: Big deal, your mom has a beard too.

Makes you wonder where it starts or how it starts. I don't know if I should be surprised that children would make such statements, or maybe it is to be expected. Perhaps the pros need to grow up.

*Author's note: The children were reprimanded for cursing or unsportsmanlike conduct.

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