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Health & Fitness

Dueling Opinions on Athletes' Feuding

We asked 2 patrons of our sports bar to weigh in on the now infamous "Fried Chicken Incident" in Golf. We'd love to hear where you stand!

Both Genders Weigh In

The recent hullabaloo surrounding charged remarks made by golfer Sergio Garcia against rival Tiger Woods have the media abuzz with a range of reactions from intrigue to indifference to disgust. These two athletes are certainly not the first competitors to tangle on the sidelines. So … how do men and women react to these sorts of controversies? We asked two of our patrons to weigh in with their thoughts.

His Take

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I don’t see what the big deal is. Guys love a good feud! Just think of the epic fights on the hockey rink or the war of words that can erupt between classic rivalries like the Red Sox and the Yankees. Rivalry creates motivation and victory is sweeter when there’s a healthy dose of conflict leading up to the big win. And fans get into the mix, too – I know I’m at the ready to defend of my favorite team and players. It’s all part of the game!

When famous athletes begin to mix things up, my attention is riveted. What will happen when the players meet next? Will more harsh words be exchanged? Will it all blow over? That’s something I want to watch even as while I’m watching the game or match.

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Trash talk also makes great bulletin board material in the locker room. Nothing stokes the desire to pull off a win like a personal grudge match. In the end, it’s all about competition, and how it plays out is as exciting for me as a fan as it is to the athletes themselves. It keeps things interesting and it keeps me tuned in.

Her Take

Not to say that women aren’t every bit the rabid sports fans that men are, but I think what happens when the game is over is all about the personalities involved. Athletes as celebrities are as interesting when the game ends as when it’s being played, and their behavior influences how I  -- and my friends – view them. Why else would so many women subscribe to People magazine?

Being in the public eye leads to close scrutiny of a celebrity’s every action and comment. Living under the microscope has to be tiring. Occasionally someone’s guard slips and they end up in the spotlight. After all, at the end of the day, athletes are people just like us, aren’t they?

It all depends on the situation, but my sympathies run with the person I perceive as wronged. Athletes behaving badly are great drama. I wait with bated breath to see how things will play out and whose reputation will take a hit. Ultimately, sports feuds affect my impression of athletes as people – not just as sports figures.

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