I watched the 49ers beat the Lions this past weekend and came away with one thing, which coach won the postgame handshake?
In case you missed it, Jim Harbaugh, the coach for the 49ers, met Jim Schwartz, the coach for the Lions, at midfield for the post game handshake. Everything looked normal until Schwartz started running after Harbaugh like a lunatic. He kept running for about 20 yards until he eventually gave up because of the players and officers blocking his way.
In the postgame press conference Schwartz responded but didn’t apologize for his reaction.
“I went to congratulate Coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way,” Schwartz said. “And then I didn’t expect an obscenity at that point, so it was a surprise to me at the end of the game.”
Harbaugh responded in a jokingly manner.
“That is totally on me,” Harbaugh said. “I shook his hand too hard. I really went in, and it was a strong, kind of a slap-grab handshake.”
I did notice a little shove by Harbaugh but no obscenities. So who wins the postgame handshake? The Trophy goes to Harbaugh because Schwartz just couldn’t be the bigger man. He simply lost it and by doing so made himself, and his team, look unprofessional.
What gets worse for Schwartz is that the altercation was caught on camera so that it will be remembered for years. It will be put in the category of crazy outbursts during a sports game. Some other notables include Ron Artest getting into a fight with some fans, LaGarrette Blount sucker punching a Boise State player, and Andre Johnson beating up Cortland Finnegan UFC style.
I know football is a man’s sport but there is a time and a place for this stuff. Not in the middle of the field where everyone can see you. Schwartz will have to think this one over for a while and hopefully he will apologize for his outburst. Until then let the media pour some salt onto the wound.
Click on the link, postgame brawl, to view the altercation.
