It’s a delicate art, celebrating a personal “Hell yeah!” moment in professional sports. Some athletes, like Chase Utley and Roy Halladay, react to their on-the-field accomplishments with the less-is-more approach of a seasoned tax attorney: a blank stare, a barely perceptible head nod, maybe a facial expression that looks like the start of indigestion.
Others turn to theatrics to drive a crowd’s energy to a fever pitch. Picture Jeremiah Trotter slamming an invisible ax into the turf after a big tackle, or Brian Dawkins doing his “Weapon X” thing after making a wide receiver seriously consider a career change.
Rare is the athlete who can craft a celebratory move that’s just right — the perfect blend of whimsy and childlike joy.
