Bat Flips vs. Respect

As you can imagine, during this time of the stay at home order, I am spending a ton of time on the internet.  I am doing work on the church website and Facebook page, not to mention doing work on virtual service filming and editing.  Well because my eyes are glued on the computer and I get the chance to look up "stuff" on the internet.  Well, one thing leads to another and I found myself watching a ton of videos of the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO) players embracing "the bat flip." 

What's a bat flip?  This is a bat flip...

I hope the guy on the on-deck circle is ok, because that bat is comin right at him!  LOOK OUT!

Beautiful right?  I am not much of an MLB fan, but I do watch it occasionally, and in the USA, bat flips are seen as disrespectful and "unsportsmanlike."   Really?  why?  Are we really worried about hurting someone's feelings?  In the United States, if you did a bat flip, you are most likely going to be intentionally hit with the baseball at your next at bat.

But I can't really seeing this as disrespectful, I merely see it as entertaining for the fans and a way of expression from the baseball player.  And it's interesting to me because in the United States in which we embrace individualism and self expression the most out of any world country, but in baseball, everyone must act the same, even if you annihilate the baseball 500 feet over the right field wall.  You are supposed to act like nothing happened.  yet in Korea, who boosts conformity in everyday social interactions, but yet in the KBO players can bat flip away!  I have even seen bat flips happen when it's not even close to a homerun, but whatever, I love it.

I don't think it's about showing off, but about having fun.  I think in the USA we are so darn concerned about hurting other people's feelings so much we forgot to have a little fun.  I dunno.. I don't have any theological reflection onthis, just a social insight.  I hope you enjoyed, and maybe if you go out and play baseball with some friends, just know, it's ok to Bat flip away!