Is there anything better than watching a big game and witnessing your favorite player getting the football? They dodge defenders and are able to reach the endzone, but then they quietly waved at the crowd, toss the ball to the ref, and walked to the sideline. Do you know how many fans would be disappointed in that, most of all the little kids waiting for a famous Gronk spike or a Cam Newton dab? Many people thought it was the best thing ever when the Seahawks all got together in the endzone and performed an obviously choreographed dance. It brings teams together, made the fans feel like they were part of the team, and brought a younger, newer fan base into the sport.

  Celebrating can be very helpful in sports communities. It can bring in millions of dollars in advertisements and sales. Celebrations do not have to be taunting, as they can be good for the sport and charities. Houston Texans player Deandre Hopkins’ mom had a tragic accident when she was blinded by acid. Every touchdown that Hopkins catches, he gives the ball to his mom or his mom’s friends in the stands. Lebron James got criticized by announcers for jumping on the court without his shoes after he had given them away to a young girl. Why is it possible for players to get in trouble for having fun, or even helping people?

  I interviewed over fifteen people and asked if they liked celebrations in sports. Most of the answers were from teenagers, and every single teen said that celebrations are interesting. The few adults that I interviewed had more diverse responses. While three adults said celebrations are fun, two said they are bad because it displays poor behavior and it ruins the reputation of the sports. This shows that celebrations from the players are aimed towards the younger generation who will still be watching sports for many years in the future. Junior Aidan Green said, “I think it is a good idea as long as it does not offend or attack anyone. They are being watched by millions of people, and almost all of the viewers enjoy celebrations.”

  While celebrating can be entertaining and fun, some people might not find it as great. When a player does an inappropriate gesture, fans can be disgusted and might stop watching the sport. Sometimes teams can be branded as thugs because they let players do whatever they want. Is the risk of misinterpretation of a celebration worth hundreds of care-free, innocent moments? 

  Major League Baseball changed its motto to “Let the kids play.” They are aimed the sport to the younger generations that enjoy watching baseball. MLB viewership has decreased in the past few years, and the league decided that they need to change who their audience is. One example of baseball celebrations is bat flips. Hitting a home run is a big accomplishment in the MLB, but hitting the ball so hard that it leaves the ballpark, then taking a slow jog and flipping the bat down the first-base line is one of the most savage things an athlete can do. 

  Is a world without celebrations a world any sports fan wants to be a part of? I would never want to see Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a massive home run, then quietly jog around the bases, or Cam Newton getting suspended or booed for dabbing or dancing in the end zone. If you are a true sports fan, you will put aside the celebrations if you do not like them.