bear2be2 said:
Handshake lines aren't about friendship. They're about keeping sports in perspective, showing competitive maturity and respecting the game -- and opponent -- you're playing.
I view handshake lines as a litmus test. Anyone who can't go through a handshake line after a game without embarrassing the school or team he's playing for isn't someone I want a part of my program.
Being competitive is a good thing. Being a sore-losing ******* isn't. If youth players and high school athletes can go through a handshake line without incident, there is no reason whatsoever that we can't and shouldn't expect the same of college players and coaches.
The first two paragraphs are spot on.
I'm a coach.
It is character building to be able to shake someone's hand after they just kicked your ass.
It is also character building to kick someone's ass, and shake their hand without talking trash.
The handshake line is you teaching your student athletes that whatever beef may have transpired on the field or on the court is now squashed.
There was a time in my life where I didn't get the handshake line, but now I do wholeheartedly.
I have classmates from BU that never played sports and grew up affluent...and some of these people did not know how to take an L in their life.