Guest Blog: Jack Eggleston talks trash talking

Editor's note: It appears they get both Versus and Fox over in Leverkusen, as our friend Jack Eggleston has been staying up past lights-out to watch Penn football and the World Series (sorry about the Rays, Jack). This week the Penn hoops alum gives an inside look at the world of trash talking — one he's spoken to the DP about in the past:

Like I mentioned before, this job leaves me with a fair amount of time on my hands. One of my favorite things to do in that time is watch sports. As anybody who has played sports for a long time will tell you, we see the game a little bit differently than the casual fan. The things we see can be tactical, like recognizing a set play that everybody in the country runs, or practical, like feeling bad for a team getting blown out because you know how awful their next practice is going to be.

What stuck out to me this weekend was obviously apparent to Bradford as well: the trash talking. In between plays of the Penn football games I usually try to catch a glimpse of my little brother Tommy doing something I can make fun of him for, but Saturday I was distracted by the jawing going both ways. Any competitor will tell you this heightens the intensity of a game and ups the stakes for those involved. Saturday was no exception.

I'm happy to report that trash talking knows no boundaries. When I finally got a chance to check out the local soccer team, Bayer Leverkusen, on Sunday, I kept a close eye on Michael Ballack. An aging star, Ballack more than made up for his declining skills by running his mouth toward any Schalke defender who wandered within a few feet of him. Like anybody who prides himself on this art, he always seemed to be turning away just as the ref notices what's happening. It was truly a joy to watch.

Having seen all this beautiful trash talk from Penn football, Michael Ballack, and the Germans yelling indecipherable things at me in my game Saturday, I was so disappointed to see what went on in the World Series games. Every Rangers hitter who made it to first was greeted by a warm smile and a pat on the back from Pujols. Ian Kinsler was laughing it up with Cardinals on second base. I could see that in a game during the middle of July, but the World Series? Come on, guys. I want to see some Sandlot-style trading of the insults. Now let me go on record as saying I would never condone telling someone they "play ball like a girl." There's a line. But take a lesson from Penn football and stop being so damn nice.