Athletes & Fans
Last night a basketball game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers turned into basket-brawl. What had started out as a little pushing and shoving between players, quickly escalated into a mob scene with fans throwing debris onto the court and some Indiana players charging into the stands to exchange blows with fans. Officials stopped the nationally televised game with less than a minute to go.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident between athletes and fans. Every major professional sport has had their share of athlete-fan clashes, as have some college sports as well. There have been suggestions in the past of moving seats further away from the players and cutting alcohol sales from sporting events. Since both suggestions affect revenue, such changes aren’t expected anytime soon.
Ultimately, professional athletes must to be professional. Without question it takes intestinal fortitude to turn away when a screaming fan is in your face or when someone throws water on you, but self-discipline and composure are traits of a true professional. For some athletes of today, self-discipline is not in their makeup, as the thug-lifestyle and gangsta mentality is what they emulate and profit from.
Like the majority of players, the vast majority of fans know their place. However, a few unruly fans can spoil it for everyone. Gone are the days of the occasional harmless and lovable streaker running onto the field. Fans of today are easily turned into a violent mob with some more than willing to charge onto the court or field to fight with players, umpires, police, or with other fans.
It is commonplace nowadays following a championship game to have the winning team’s city turned into a war zone. Fans started fires and overturned cars following the Pistons championship last year, as did Laker fans during their championship run. A 21-year old college student was recently killed after she was mistakenly shot with a projectile when police clashed with a crowd of celebrating Red Sox fans outside of Fenway Park.
Surely there must be a million theories available to explain the increase in athlete-fan violence. Mass quantities of alcohol and a lack of professionalism in the professional athlete are just a few. Perhaps sports in general is mirroring the cultural decline of society. I look at the old photos of sporting events from years ago; the men in the stands are dressed in suits and ties, the women wearing stylish dresses, the athletes prided themselves for their sportsmanship, and the sports were referred to as gentleman’s games.