MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 7, 1999

What ever happened to the days when it was okay to have fun in sports? Yes, it’s nice to take games seriously, but they are just that – games.

Things that we did as youngsters to have fun and still do as adults. Thereis enough seriousness in life. Why not take a breather now and then?Take Ricky Williams. Here’s a guy who seems like he is just glad to havethe opportunity to play football for a living. What’s wrong with that? Tothe eyes of some, everything. So he poses for the cover of a magazinewearing a wedding dress, so what? My God, you think he was the next coming of Ru-Paul with the way some people are talking and writing.

Oh, and don’t even get them started on the contract he signed with the Saints. What was he thinking, they ask. How dare he sign a contract basedon how he plays. Scandalous. Why it could mean other players gettingsimilar contracts. Players getting paid for actually doing what they aresupposed to instead of for just showing up.

Hello, isn’t that what people have been clamoring for for years? Haven’t all the complaints been about the Kevin Browns and Kevin Garnetts getting contracts in the hundreds of millions and about rookies becoming multi- millionaires before they have proven themselves? And now we are criticizing a player about being happy with a incentive-based contract? Shame on you Ricky for doing something we said other players should have been doing for years.

And shame on you Tiger Woods and David Duval for your exhibition the other night. How dare you have fun playing golf and putting on a show. Itwasn’t the rivalry some people expected? What more could you have done? The match went down to the final two holes. Each of you hit some greatshots. Over 20 million people watched you on television. There was evensportsmanship with Duval conceding a two-foot putt to Woods for the match that was anything but a gimme, especially on that green.

Anna Monica, who writes for us, brought up a good point in Wednesday’s edition regarding Brandi Chastain removing her shirt and exposing her sports bra after the U.S. Women’s Soccer team’s victory in the World Cup.She only did something that many male soccer players do worldwide after scoring a goal. It’s not like she was Sable posing in Playboy. Players already cannot have fun celebrating in college and pro football without risking a penalty. Bill “Whiteshoes” Johnson’s touchdown dancewas fun to watch but try it today and it will cost you 15 yards. Why? It’sno more damaging to the game than some of the stuff the owners do behind their closed door meetings.

Yes, athletes should take their sports seriously. It’s what they are paid todo. But let’s not criticize them if they want to let their hair (or dredlocks)down every now and then.

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