Comments for

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by Carol

Carol — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:22:11 +0000

I have played sports since I was little. I played college ball. I was employed with the college intramural department as a graduate assistant. Since then I have been involved with sports programming for a parks and recreation department for over 20 years. I will say without a doubt that fan and player behavior has gotten worse over the years. Someone stated that they felt incidents that happen are blown up by the media and are not the norm. I would like to say that things like this are a lot more common than most people realize. There are tons of incidents that never make the media.

In the time I have been with the parks department I have seen a parent punch an 18 year old umpire in the face (breaking his nose and glasses) over a call in a ten year old girls softball game. I have seen parents come toe to toe on the pitchers mound of a 6 year olds t-ball game. I have seen a father grab a 3rd grader and throw him to the ground because he did not like the way this child had tackled his son. I have seen a 12 year old girls soccer team spit in their hands before shaking hands with the opposing team. I have seen a 12 and under girls softball team spit on homeplate, then watch as their coach kicked dirt all over the plate while yelling that he did not like the umpiring for their game. I have watched as parents and coach from an opposing team continually harassed a 9 year old girl, telling everyone in the ball park that she was really a boy. Do you know the damage this did to this little girl? These are just some of the things I have seen in the YOUTH leagues.

I won’t take the time to talk about things I see in the adult arena. However, keep in mind the kids are learning this behavior from somewhere. I know people think it is fun to go to the ballpark of their favorite professional team and harass the players and officials. Just because they are getting paid to play a sport does not make them fair game. Would you like someone coming into your office yelling that you suck and your haircut sucks and you shouldn’t be paid to do what you are doing because you aren’t any good at it? What makes athletes or their officals fair game for your anger and abuse?

Kudos to goodfans!!!

Comment on Go Texas Tech! by James

James — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:21:06 +0000

Texas Tech deserves a lot of credit for “drawing a line in the sand” regarding ridiculous fan behavior. Great work!

Comment on Step Up To The Plate Mr. Commissioner! by Ivan

Ivan — Wed, 09 May 2007 15:00:45 +0000

Bonds is a bum and a cheater. I hope everyone boycotts the televised record-breaking game.

Comment on Step Up To The Plate Mr. Commissioner! by Jim

Jim — Wed, 09 May 2007 14:58:41 +0000

I am a boy’s high school baseball coach. Part of my pre-season speech to players and parents includes my zero tolerance policy regarding all drugs, including steroids. Thanks.

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by Walter Watson

Walter Watson — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 20:15:00 +0000

I was in Baltimore for my Daughters track meet at Morgan State university last summer. So we decided to go to see baltimore play the white sox. There was a group of drunken White Sox fans behind us, Yelling and swaering the whole game. They also kept buying rounds of beer for each other to firm up there moronic bond. It just spoiled our whole time there. Kids can’t enter a bar room, Why should Drunk people be allowed to behave like that in front of impressable kids in public places. I paid $ 80.00 for our tickets and we could’t enjoy the game. I paid the money to watch the game why should I have to put up with that. I think it’s irresposable of the management to be selling alchol at games. It should be a game to focus on not Drunken idiots. I also demanded they refund my money witch they did.

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by M Nolan

M Nolan — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:01:07 +0000

Well I think you’re at least half right, bud.

I love the game and I was in Fenway in the summer of 1967.

I also think they should weigh more thought on how their behavior reflects on themselves.

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by Laurie H.

Laurie H. — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 00:36:03 +0000

I had the misfortune of observing bad fan behavior being taught at college in front of 15000 fans. After touring Syracuse University this December with our high school daughter, we were excited to take her and her younger brothers to see a Syracuse basketball game in the Carrier Dome. I was horrified to see the institutionalized bad behavior on display. As they were introducing each of the opposing players, the Syracuse Cheerleaders walked across the super fan section with different signs stating such things as “Who cares?”, “Big Deal” and worse, which the fans shouted out on cue. The super fan section was located behind one of the baskets, and when the opposing team was trying to shoot at that basket, they would all shout and jump around (cheerleaders too, of course) to distsract them. I was horrified, and Syracuse slipped way down on our list. We had to talk about it with our 11 year old boys. Is this common at other bid Division 1 schools?

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by Joe Bonanno

Joe Bonanno — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 23:54:14 +0000

Just so happy to read about your organization in todays globe (april 10). Todays it seems everything is about degrading and demorilizing the opponent. No Respect. I for one will teach my children respect and sportsmanship. In recent years I have been to Fenway a few times and just found it unbelievable some of the things I hear people say in front of families and children. Very disturbing. I do not understand the Yankees suck chant? What does that say to our children? If you can not beat them hurl insults? Sad state of where our society is going. Glad to hear what you are doing!

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by JMS

JMS — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:00:24 +0000

Interesting idea, but it seems that you’re excluding the female fans in your current offerings of t-shirt styles and sizes. How about something in a size smaller than a men’s Medium? Or something with a v-neck and a closer fit to better accommodate some of the female sports fans out here? I’m not advocating for pastel colours (it irks me to see the proliferation of pink offerings for the professional sports teams – give me red and blue for the Sox any day!), but some variability in choice would be helpful.

Comment on What Kind of Sports Fans Are We? by Ginger

Ginger — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:09:33 +0000

I have taken my 9 year old nephew to games at Fenway and tried hard to reinforce the positive when I feel there is nastiness all around. He is a pure fan, rooting for players on both the home and opposing teams. It’s really great to hear him clap for a great play, regardless of the team affiliation. I can only hope this attitude is as infectious as the general rantings that others have already documented so well. I love that you are trying to spread this by example. At Fenway, the bad examples are all around. It is shocking to see kids his age and younger wearing t-shirts that say Yankees Suck, Jeter (or take your pick of any other marquee player) Swallows. Adults are making and buying shirts like this for kids. It’s not funny, it’s pathetic. Let’s make sure the Good Fans shirts outweigh messages like these.