I feel sorry for Keith Ballard. Everyone seems to be quick to villify him for his temper-induced guillotine swing at Tomas Vokoun the other night. I am far from a professional athlete, but am definitely a competitive person. I hate to lose at Playstation, golf, cards, even get grumpy when someone beats me to a door when approaching a diner or store.
I will admit my flaws, such as breaking a golf club during one particularly subpar golf outing. I have punched the cushions of my couch after giving up a long pass play to lose an NCAA Football video game. I've angrily stomped my foot when my computer locked up before I could save a report at work. I am an emotional, passionate, competitive person. (And did I mention I hate to lose?)
Sports in general are both emotional and competitive. Add to that the lumps of cash that can be made if you (and in turn, your team) are successful at them. Ballard lost his cool. Just like Bo Jackson used to when he struck out and snapped baseball bats over his knee when he struck out. Because we couldn't replicate this muscle bound feat, we thought that was cool.
Ballard showed an error in judgment and succumbed to his emotions. We all do it. The Lord made one perfect man, and we nailed him to a cross. We're all flawed. Most of us that follow sports are competitive and displayed outbursts similar to what Keith Ballard did. We were (hopefully) just fortunate not to have injured anyone but ourselves in the process.
Ballard is a quality NHL defenseman. He plays with emotion and physicality which surpasses his 6-0 frame. I remember watching the Coyotes play the Penguins last year, expecting to be blown away by the physicality of Ballard's partner at the time, Nick Boynton. Boynton is bigger that Ballard, so my buddy and I expected him to carry the hitting load for this tandem. Not so.
Ballard hit everything that moved, and left his heart omn the ice. I'd take him on my team anytime. And I'd be greatly disappointed if everyone's rush to judge caused this to be the defining moment of his career.
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