Trash talking in sports

Just like lip-synching is a part of an Ashlee Simpson routine, trash-talking is a part of the world of sports.

Always has been, always will be - whether you like it or not.

Often referred to as "talking smack," trash-talking is a tactic used by athletes and spectators alike to get under the skin of an opposing player or team.

Athletes see it is a way to try to get on their opponent's nerves, and essentially concentrate more on what to say back than on the game itself.

Fans see it as a way to let their voice be heard, and maybe even give their team an edge by getting an opponent riled up.

Most of the time, the comments made are generally light-hearted, far from something that could leave an "emotional scar."

Usual banter includes stuff like "Hey bud, look at the scoreboard," or "My grandma sits in a rocking chair, and she still moves faster than you."

You'd be hard-pressed to find an athlete who didn't use or hear these comments at some point in their career, and most would agree it's all just part of the game.

"I think it (trash-talking) is all in good fun," Plattsburgh State University College men's soccer player John San Filippo said. "I've trash-talked to opponents, and they've talked back to me, but we still shake hands after a game like nothing happened. As long as you don't cross a certain line."

Like most athletes, and most people for that matter, San Fillipo feels that comments made about race, sexual orientation or a person's family are definitely off-limits.

Derogatory comments on these topics shouldn't be shouldn't be used anywhere, let alone the playing field.

An example of this would be telling an opponent that, "I ran deep for a touchdown with your mom last night."

This summer's World Cup Soccer final between Italy and France showed the world just how ugly trash-talking can get.

In the second half of extra-time, French talisman and team captain Zinedine Zidane leveled opponent Marco Materazzi with a head-butt straight into Materazzi's chest.

Zidane, voted the tournaments best player, was sent off, and Italy ultimately won the game, and the tournament.

After the match, Zidane admitted his actions were wrong, but claimed that he was provoked by Matterazzi who called him "a dirty Arab terrorist" and also "wished a terrible death on his mother."

Zidane's mother was sick in hospital at the time. Materazzi denied the accusations, but nonetheless, trash-talking became a hot topic on the world's sport networks, especially European ones.

In more recent news, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was fined for stomping on Dallas' offensive lineman Andre Gurode's head during a game. Haynesworth was then ejected from the game and later fined $190,070. This is equivalent to $38,014 a game and about one-seventeenth of his $3.23 million salary. Haynesworth would soon apologize, but not without receiving a five-game suspension.

So, where exactly do we draw the line when it comes to what can and can't be said or done?

How do we define how far is too far?

Trash-talking isn't banned in sports - it really is a part of the game. It's not something that makes an athlete, but if you can get into your opponents head, you've just made your job that much easier.

Even Michael Jordan, by all accounts a classy individual, was known to be the King of trash-talking. Maybe that was a part of what made him so good?