Should 3rd-graders be mugging for cameras? Reaction to viral basketball video is mixed

If you inhabit Twitter and follow sports at all, odds are you probably saw a video from @CourtsideSports and pushed out again by @Overtime with the caption, “These third graders acting different” and a laughing emoji.

(Imagine trying to decipher that sentence 20 years ago).

The video, apparently taken last weekend at a tournament at Sports Plus in Cincinnati of a third-grade travel team, lasts just 42 seconds. It starts with a kid looking at the camera as he is walking to the sideline, slapping hands with his coach, then dancing. Next clip, a different kid muscles up a shot as he gets fouled, staring at his opponent and yelling “Baby!” and putting his palm to the ground to signify that his opponent (about half his size) is, in fact, too small.

Big kid then walks to the free-throw line and dancing kid is behind him, staring at camera, flexing. Next clip, dancing and flexing kid, again staring at camera, lets out a primal scream. “Let’s go!” No context here, but intimidating nonetheless.

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I look at the clip timer. My God, we have 22 seconds left. Let’s get through it quickly.

Big kid makes a 3. OK, good. Kisses three fingers as he skips back down court and raises them in air and does the bow and arrow thing. Maybe I’m saying that wrong. I don’t care. Dancing, flexing and staring kid makes a 3, looks at camera (of course) and holds his form. Big kid makes a putback and let’s his opponent know again that he’s too small (he’s not wrong).

End video. Start reaction.

I retweeted the video Wednesday at lunchtime asking, “Thoughts on this? Honestly curious.” And, of course, people had thoughts. Mostly negative. A sampling:

“As a coach and educator who loves his kids dearly, I would have a hard time not ripping them off the court by their jerseys. They have been told this, too.”

“Bad for the game, the kids, and the future of the game.”

“Disrespecting your opponent at that age is disturbing and sad.”

“I don’t like it. Can’t imagine what it will look like when they get in high school. Where are the parents and coaches?”

“Foolishness. Reasons why the youth sports are in the shape it is. Grown men shouldn’t be allowing this at such a young age. I don’t like it. They will come up with a taunting rule because it causes too much tension and aggression. It’s gotten out of hand.”

There were dozens more. Good responses. Well thought out. Not everyone was necessarily against it, though. “Oh good grief … they are acting like kids,” one reader responded. “As long as it’s not directed at other team, fine,” wrote another.

It is a good discussion, I think. Is the behavior even a problem? It probably depends on your stage in life and experiences. As a good number of readers pointed out, this celebratory behavior is what kids grow up watching. And, to a certain extent, what harm is there in playing with emotion and having fun? I will admit, I enjoy covering kids who play with an edge.

A lot of people blamed the NBA for the behavior of the third graders. It was probably the No. 1 answer, just ahead of social media. And I’m sure those kids are modeling the behavior of their favorite NBA players. But I’m also wondering: Where are the adults? Why are we letting a third grader yell “Baby!” and taunt another third grader with no repercussions?

When I get a chance to talk to young athletes and parents, I often tell them that rankings and outside opinions are relatively meaningless. They are for fans, not you. But they need to hear that message from the adults in their lives. Do your work. Expect nothing in return.

Don’t take this for pearl clutching. I’m no angel. I have done my share of dumb things as a competitor growing up and as a coach as an adult. But I think the point here is this: If we are saying we are OK with this behavior, we have to be OK with the reaction to it. Because some kid is not going to be OK being called a baby. And some coach or some parent is going to take exception with little Johnny when he flexes on his son.

And then we’re going to have a different viral video to break down.

As former Fishers and St. Francis player Lance Dollison pointed out in his reply, the game is humbling. These kids are probably putting an unnecessary target on themselves. But the cameras are there — and I’m making an educated guess here — because the parents are probably paying for a highlight video. Those reactions are for the camera.

Is it the end of the world? Obviously not. But it’s like anything else in life: If you dish it out, you better be ready to take it. As one reader wrote:

“It’s funny right up until they meet a team way better and talks way more trash. Basketball gods have a way of serving up that humble pie. The kids will be fine but wouldn’t bet on the parents being OK.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Reaction to viral video of 3rd-graders taunting in AAU basketball game