So, the next time there's a story berating people/individuals (or "fans" as the general term is thrown around) who cheer when a professional, adult player is hurt during a game, we can put a stop to it by saying, "That player wasn't emotionally crippled by the cheering, lots of fans act that way, and if a Yankee was injured in Fenway, you don't think many people would by cheering?" etc. The way the girl handled it has nothing to do with it. I'm merely fascinated by the mindset of so-called adults that find it necessary to boo a kid. If you go to a kids pee-wee game in the Indianapolis area and one of the teams is named "Patriots" does that mean any adult who happens to call themselves a Colts fan can boo, heckle, or berate the kids and that means they're a "fan?" I get back to what The Black Hand said earlier, if you can go up to your boss on Monday morning, or your child's teacher, and gleefully boast how you and your buddies booed loudly when they were naming off the Punt, Pass, & Kick winners, then I admit I don't quite get it. Sorry, maybe I sound like a complete prick, but it just never entered my mind to do that sort of thing.
is it really that bad to boo a 14-year old girl in a Pats jersey on the field during a playoff game? She herself knew to expect it. What, do we think that such a response would emotionally cripple her in some permanent way? Clearly not - her responses indicate as such. Who - in their right mind - is surprised by any of this Yes it is that bad. That girl was mature enough to understand, but what if she werent? What if instead of a 14 year old, it was a 9 year old, who dreams of playing on that field, in front of those fans. now his dream is polluted with the boos of ignorant thugs who don't see how hard he worked to get there through the jersey that he was handed when he started the competition. Even though she is 14, there was a 9 year old standing just a few spaces to her right, observing all of it. This seems like a small thing as an adult, but these are the years when they are learning about sportsmanship. People raise hell all the time about bad sports parents, and the impact they have on their kids. Nobody makes excuses for a father at a little league game who yells at the ump for a called strike, until the ump orders him to leave. Why do we make excuses for these fans? the age of the kids isnt different. I think this points to a fundamental problem in sports: many fans, cant seem to seperate playful ribbing of another teams fans, from open hostility. When its adults, i think its ok, but when we do it infront of our kids, or worse yet TO our kids, yes it does damage them.
I think this points to a fundamental problem in sports: many fans, cant seem to seperate playful ribbing of another teams fans, from open hostility. That's where I would disagree with you. I saw the whole thing play out live and my reaction was that it was playful ribbing. I don't think booing is necessarily open hostility. I would also suggest that a teenager who is competitive and athletic enough to win PP&K has probably played team sports and understands the nature of rivalries in sports. And as Eli mentioned, from what I've seen and heard about the nightmarish parents and coaches in the pee-wee leagues across the country, booing from some fans of your team's rival would seem to be a very minor incident.
And from what I've seen and heard about the nightmarish parents and coaches in the pee-wee leagues across the country, booing from some fans of your team's rival would seem to be a very minor incident. That doesn't make it right or excuse what happenned Sunday.
That doesn't make it right or excuse what happenned Sunday. If you consider it to be a big deal. I don't.
Yeah cjets, thats kindof a distortion of what i said. What i did say was that it SEEMS like a small thing to and adult, but that it really isnt. Especially to a kid. Yes i will concede that to a 14 year old who is that competitive, this is probably nothing new, but as i also said, she had younger people who probably have not seen that part of it. and to them the line between playful ribbing, and open hostility is pretty blurry.
If you consider it to be a big deal. I don't It's not about being a big deal. It's about showing responsability as a sports fan. Obviously you don't get it and that's fine but you're missing the point I think.
Yeah cjets, thats kindof a distortion of what i said. Yeah, my last paragraph is a little unclear. I was just trying to give you credit for mentioning the Bad sports parents that I referenced as well. I'm not trying to claim that you agree with me. If you look at my first paragraph though, you'll see that I was quite clear in disagreeing with you. You think it's open hostility. I think it's playful ribbing. Here's a quote from the article: "Before I went down there, my friends said, You know, you'll probably get booed,"' she said in a telephone interview. "I was kind of waiting for it. "It really didn't bother me at all," she added. "People at the game came up to me afterward and said, It's not you. It's your jersey."' That just doesn't sound like open hostility to me. It sounds like a typical rivalry
That just doesn't sound like open hostility to me. It sounds like a typical rivalry Again, your missing the point. It didn't matter if she expected it or not. It didn't matter if it bothered her. What mattered was the fans who were there didn't know any of that and still booed her. It was 100% tasteless and 0% tactful. It showed zero class.
In 1998, i went to wrigley field wearing a mark mcgwire jersey. It was red, unmistakabel, and highly noticable. If i had squeezed all the beer out of that thing after he went deep in the 5th inning, i could easily have been arrested for minor posession, as i was only 19. I loved every second of it. My friend who is a cubs fan had the tickets and no other cub fans to join him for the 8 hour drive. I told him i would go but only if i could wear my cards jersey. He laughed and said if i have the balls...I did. As a 19 year old, former high school football player, who had been watching the cards/cubs feud for about 16 of those 19 years, i knew exactly what to expect. and i was ok with it. It isnt the older kids that concern me. But as i said before, the younger ones saw that display as well. When did indy become philly, by the way? Maybe the booing was intended playfully, but it clearly isnt being taken that way by the general public. At the absolute best, it looks bad on the team, the city, and the fans and residents of each. And i agree with the post above that said, if you wouldnt want your friend, your co-workers, you boss, your parents, your kids or your spouse to see YOU booing a teenager, you shouldnt be defending those who did.
It's not about being a big deal. It's about showing responsability as a sports fan. Obviously you don't get it and that's fine but you're missing the point I think. Obviously if he got it, he'd think it was a big deal, just like you do. Seriously, isn't it possible that someone could have a different view than you about what the "responsibility" of a sports fan is? And that that view, although different than yours, could perhaps not be completely and totally still-not-getting-it wrong?
Seriously, isn't it possible that someone could have a different view than you about what the "responsibility" of a sports fan is? And that that view, although different than yours, could perhaps not be completely and totally still-not-getting-it wrong? Guess not. Your one to talk lbb. LOL
Guess not. Your one to talk lbb. LOL Here's an idea. Why not disagree with me without telling me I don't get it, or that LBB is "one to talk." I disagree with LBB all the time. And we debate the issues, not the person. Here's a quote from your profile B10: I have been living in Piitsburgh since 2001 and it sucks! If Pittsburgh was a body part it would be an anus. Is that your idea of class? I guess kids in Pittsburgh wouldn't be offended by that at all.
Is that seriously your arument, cjets?
Is that seriously your arument, cjets? Is what seriously cjets' argument? That it's not that big a deal?
I guess kids in Pittsburgh wouldn't be offended by that at all I dont think there are a lot of 14 year old pittsburgh kids in here, are there?
Is that seriously your arument, cjets? No. First of all Eli, that was directed to B10, not you. And second, that is my response to someone who's only response to me is, "you don't get it." And then goes after LBB as well. Both times making it personal, rather than debating the issue at hand. And third, I don't want lectures on class from someone who, on an open and public forum writes If Pittsburgh was a body part it would be an anus. Talk about not tell your boss about what you do. And to reiterate. my argument is this. I found the booing to be "good natured ribbing" not open hostility. Rival teams boo each other. It's no big deal. That's what she thought. It's what I thought before I knew what she thought.
Is that your idea of class? r u serious? I'm on a sports blog, not a childrens website. Besides that is so NOT even close to what we're talking about. Expressing your opinion in a sports blog and booeing a 14 yr old girl on the field that accomplished something other kids tried and couldn't do is a bit different, don't yea think? You know, like night and day! That is probably the weakest argument on this blog so far. I guess kids in Pittsburgh wouldn't be offended by that at all. Probably, but i'm NOT talking to kids in Pittsburgh directly either am I? I'm not booeing them on the field for winning a sports contest am I? Nor would I. My feelings for Pittsburgh would not be taken out on a 14 yr old girl for wearing the wrong jersey. WOW, you're most definantly in left field on this one. Nice try though, applaud the effort.
Probably, but i'm NOT talking to kids in Pittsburgh directly either am I? I'm not booeing them on the field for winning a sports contest am I? Nor would I. I think it's certainly within the realm of possibility that a teenager from Pittsburgh could read your profile. This is an open and public site. (and by the way, I realize the age of the person booed is an issue. But does gender really matter?) Maybe I am in left field. But I find it ironic that someone who compares Pittsburgh to an anus (in their public profile, no less, not even a one-off post) should be scolding others about classless behavior.
But I find it ironic that someone who compares Pittsburgh to an anus (in their public profile, no less, not even a one-off post) should be scolding others about classless behavior. Maybe, but having an opinion about a city and booeing a 14 year old is quiet a bit different isn't it? I was "scolding" the Colts fans, I don't remember you personally being a target but if you were there and did it than....yes, I was. This whole conversation doesn't matter because there is a fundamental difference in opinions here. I guess I'll agree to disagree but I still think it was wrong.
By the way cjets, does the word 'Anus" offend you that much?
I guess I'll agree to disagree Fair enough. By the way cjets, does the word 'Anus" offend you that much? Actually it made me laugh. And by the way, not a colt fan, never was, never will be, so you weren't scolding me. Just giving my $.02 on what I think is a tempest in a teapot. But I don't want to get started again so let's just agree to disagree, as you said.
Your one to talk lbb. LOL There was no good reason to make this personal, B10.
There was no good reason to make this personal, B10. Oh relax, seriously now. I wasn't trying to make it personal, I was just commenting on other posts I've seen from lbb on other Sports Filter blogs to other people. Nothing to get uptight about. I just felt strongly about the subject. I wasn't trying to make it personal with cjets either, I was just trying to get my point through to him. Obviously we didn't agree so you move on. If you take things personal from a blog like this there is a problem.
Since this is winding down, let me just mention that I've seen footage of the contest she won and I think the kid representing Baltimore really won it.
Puntpasskickgate! Anna Grant*
Joey Michaels: Since this is winding down, let me just mention that I've seen footage of the contest she won and I think the kid representing Baltimore really won it.
That took me a second, but... comedy gold!
That was a good one, Joey. By the way, the kid with the Ravens jersey was Jim Kelly's nephew.
I think the real winner in this fiasco is Anna herself. Joke or not, she indeed handled herself with incredible poise and good nature in the face of a ridiculous situation. The world could use more people like her, in my humble opinion. I'm sure glad that this was just your opinion because I just don't see how "[t]he world could use more people like her..." just for being booed. If that were the case, the whole world would probably be consumed with the entire Knicks organization and Kwame Brown of the Lakers.
Again, your missing the point. It didn't matter if she expected it or not. It didn't matter if it bothered her. What mattered was the fans who were there didn't know any of that and still booed her. It was 100% tasteless and 0% tactful. It showed zero class. So in other words - what matters is the way you feel about it, and to hell with the reactions of anyone involved. And it's the rest of us who don't get it. She should've popped her jersey to all 4 sides of the stadium and given the universal gesture for 'Bring it On' (which, I believe, would have been to hold up a Florida ballot from the 2004 election).
I just don't see how "[t]he world could use more people like her..." just for being booed. Which isn't even close to what he suggested. I took it to mean more people who can laugh off the crassness of others.
Oh relax, seriously now. I wasn't trying to make it personal, I was just commenting on other posts I've seen from lbb on other Sports Filter blogs to other people. I'd say that's pretty much the definition of "making it personal". I've been known to pursue a point, but I don't think you can say that I have a history of insisting that other people "still don't get it" because they look at a situation like the one discussed in this thread and disagree with me about its significance. Feel free to post specific citations if you feel I'm wrong about that.
