Jim Harbaugh Fight: NFL Fans Laugh at Ford Field Fracas

For years, many fans of the National Football League have dubbed the NFL as the "No Fun League" for the ponderous restrictions the commissioner's office has placed on its players, coaches and teams. 

However, yesterday's predictably mundane, obligatory coaches' post-game handshake following the Detroit Lions' loss to the San Francisco 49ers, which could have easily escalated into an ugly brawl, infused fun and laughter into every NFL football fan's weekend analysis of the near fisticuffs on Ford Field. 

As soon as time expired in his surging 49ers' victory over the previously-unbeaten Detroit Lions, overzealous 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh raced across the Ford Field's synthetic turf like he'd just won Powerball. 

Harbaugh greeted the Lions' coach Jim Schwartz, barely bottling his own raw emotions, and exuberantly clasped the rival coach's hand.  Then it happened. Innocently—though forcefully—Harbaugh slapped Schwartz on the back, as if in a dismissive manner.   

The surprised Schwartz immediately took exception to Harbaugh's slap and comically chased after the 49ers' first-year coach, bumping him and shouting at him before he exited the field.  

Eyeing the rival coaches' immature behavior, a portly personality in a suit, tie and glasses intervened before more shouting, accusations and potential punches could be exchanged. 

A media circus quickly descended on the two coaches, who looked ready to square off right in the Ford Field end zone like 11-year-olds would in the center of a middle school playground.

Lions and 49ers players then entered into the fomenting fracas, some foolishly taking off their helmets instead of strapping them on as a Motor City melee seemed certain to ensue.  

Fortunately, calmer heads prevailed and the knuckle-headed behavior of the two head coaches and players was diffused—only to be ignited, repeatedly reported and exhaustively analyzed by just about every sports media outlet on the planet.

FOX, NBC, CBS and ESPN all focused frenzied attention on the Harbaugh-Schwartz altercation, and football bloggers everywhere feasted on the NFL's first brouhaha of the season. By Sunday evening, football fans all learned of the "fight" like it was the reincarnation of Ali vs. Frazier's Thrilla in Manilla.  

Yesterday's immature postgame clash between two successful professional football coaches, who should have known and done better, could have sparked a seriously ugly brawl.   

However, Harbaugh's silly slap on the back, followed by Schwartz's glacier-like chase of the 49ers coach, furnished football fans with enough fodder, fun and laughter for the coming week, but is certain to be addressed and disciplined today (and rightfully so) by the unofficial czar of the "No Fun League," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.  

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MIKE - the ultimate talking head on sports!