What's with all the spitting?

Hi Judith, how have you been? Its not just in sports. In America in fact you seldom if ever see a man spitting in the streets. When I came to the middle east, I was shocked to see gobs of spit everywhere in the streets of Dubai, Kuwait and Egypt. It seems so gross to me to step around it and it is everywhere. Also on a funny, but not so funny note, the people over here are public nose pickers and that really bugs me too. In fact, in America both of those things are done in the bathroom out of modesty and courtesy of others. (Maybe sports players excluded) I appreciate your viewpoint...no matter when or when it is just plain old gross.

In the states you're not one of the good ole boys unless you can work up a nice juicey gob and let fly, One of the great traditions of America is the stylization of spitting. Ballplayers (they got that name because they grab their crotch when they're standing at the plate) have to know how to spit or they're not ballplayers. Well, I guess they're still ballplayers if they grab their crotch with gusto, but spitting does do wonders for their image.

My favorite style, was the one us hoods used to use while we were hanging out in a parking lot of some bowling alley, chewing gum or smoking. We sort of sisssttted between our teeth in short squirts. Am I making you sick yet? This is also a favorite method for ballplayers to use while they're hanging out in a dugout or for a pitcher to do while he's waiting on a coach or manager before coming out to the mound for a chat or to take him out of the game.

Incidentally, coaches are the greatest spitters. Man, do they know how to control the flow. It can be a thing of beauty just watching them turn on the faucet.

Of course there's the good old-fashioned hummer where you sort of work up a gob behind your tongue before letting it fly. Now that really is a thing of beauty because a good gob can cover six feet or more. Unfortunately, it isn't a very controlled spit and if you're not careful of the direction the winds are blowing you can really get into trouble.

Since the '90 sunflower seeds have taken over from the good healthy gob to a certain extent and I'm in the process of grieving over the change. Baseball without spitting and crotch grabbing just isn't baseball, so thank god they're still grabbing their crown jewels.

I don't find it all that offensive but I know what you are saying. However I wouldn't rule out that they are chewing tobacco or at least sunflower seeds. Both of which have been synonymous with the sport for some time.

Spitting and sports does seem to go hand in hand. However baseball does seem to have an over abundance.

some chew tobacco, some spit sunflower seeds, some picked it up in the minor leagues and just do it out of habit. Or for some it may be superstition.

Well, you have to remember that you're girls. Girls hate spitting but boys don't. It is so easy to dehydrate out there that most guys chew tobacco or sunflower seeds or even gum to generate saliva. Excess saliva -- spitting.

Gosh, I know right?? It's nasty. Mmm... & yes some players still do chew chewing tobacco. Such as Raul Ibanez. =I

(English person speaking) But i think.... it goes back to tradition of baseball where they used to spit tobacco, and has since carried on.

either that or they just love to fill the bases with spit so they can slide better =]

They are chew tabacoo yes or some people chew gum. Its normal here in America we're used to all the spitting.

a lot of them ARE chewing tobacco haha

They are spitting out sunflower seeds.