On his 18th birthday last Saturday, Matt Owens lived the dream. The senior quarterback of his high school football team, Owens ran for a long TD late in the fourth quarter for the winning score of the Massachusetts state championship game. As the goal line became visible and the outcome was becoming clear, Owens raised his left hand for about 7 yards of his run before getting to the end zone.
The dream, however, became a nightmare. The referees called Owens for excessive celebration and the flag negated the TD. Owens and his teammates lost 16-14.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association issued a statement about the rules and the interpretation and how each team was reminded before the season about the heightened focus on the celebration violations. The MIAA pointed out the learning experience that is available from this moment and the fact that the other team’s win is being “tarnished” by the hubbub of Owens’ situation.
The MIAA can have its say, of course. And everyone else can clearly and openly say shame on the referee, the MIAA and anyone who believes the letter of the law is better or more important than right and wrong or even justice being served.
No one is defending, the over-the-top, look-at-me antics of athletes because it has become tiresome. Blame the NFL receivers who celebrate after getting 8 yards and a first down or the safety who thumps his chest after making a tackle 18 yards down field — more times than not, when their team is getting beat by three touchdowns. Blame coaches at any level who not only condone players showing out on the field or in practice but do a fair amount of theatrics on the sideline themselves.