A Crying Shame

There are a few unwritten rules in society....you
-don’t wear white after Labor Day 
-don’t talk with your mouth full
-the guy has to pay for dinner on the first date (even if dessert is the most exciting part of the date)
-and men aren't allowed to cry...
That last unwritten rule is the most scrutinized. Some people say men can't cry because it makes them seem soft or feminine.  And that men shouldn't cry because they are supposed to express their emotions in a more masculine way, or not at all.  Personally I think it depends on the situation.
Crying over the death of a loved one..good crying

Crying at the end of Toy Story 3..bad crying

What about when it comes to sports?  Should men cry when they get injured or fail? Again it depends.

Tear three knee ligaments..good crying

Former NFL Coach Dick Vermeil at every press conference...bad crying

Dick Vermeil press conference

In 1992 Tom Hanks told the world, "There's no crying in baseball!"

But what about basketball?

After losing its fourth straight game, the Miami Heat became exhibit A. 

(left to right)
Biggest Ego, Bigger Ego , Big Ego

Miami lost Sunday to the Chicago Bulls at home, 87-86 after blowing a double digit lead.  The loss ended a week that saw the three UmmEgos (LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh) lose at home to the New York Knicks (who Cleveland is 3-0 against this season)..blow a 24-point lead at home to Orlando..and lose by 30 in San Antonio. 

Except for the Spurs blowout, Miami had a chance to tie or win each of these games in the final seconds, only to have one of its three UmmEgos..er..stars miss the shot. (Miami is 1-16 in the final seconds of games when attempting to tie the score or take the lead this season..worst in the NBA)

Upsetting? Yes. Devastating? You bet. Worth crying about?.....
Following the game, Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra, mentioned at his press conference that some of his players were crying in the locker room.  The first question that comes to mind is...who? In a time where athelete's hearts and will to win is questioned isn't it good the Heat care this much?
Definitely, but I don't think the players (whoever they were) were crying because they were sad about the loss.  Maybe they just got the news that their Ipad is outdated..(thanks Steve Jobs and Ipad 2). Maybe someone was upset Charlie Sheen can't see his kids... Or maybe they were just frustrated.

While everyone wants to examine if the players should or shouldn't be crying, the real question is why Spoelstra felt the need to mention it.  What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. (It's like Vegas, minus the slot machine bells and cigarette smoke).  The 40-year-old coach has been questioned all season, due to his lack of experience and questionable offense (he doesn't have one).  However, this is a firable offense.  He didn't just throw his players under the bus. He made the bus driver back up over them and run them over another time.  Earlier in the season LeBron bumped Spoelstra on the sideline during a timeout..it was clear the players didn't respect their coach.  Following Sunday's comments, they have no reason to trust him either. So, the debate whether men should express their emotions by crying rages on, but if Spoelstra is fired at the end of the season, don't expect anyone in the Miami locker room to shed a tear...

Can I get you a Kleenex coach?
Sorry Bosh used them all...