by Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher
3 February 1999
I say kick them out of the bleachers.
Those obnoxious fans who come to spoil everyone else's
good time at the ball games, should be sent home.
I'm all for a good time of rooting for your team, but
there seems to be a few fanatics who come to ball games just to let off steam.
Most of the parents, teachers, and coaches, try to teach
their youngsters fair play from the time children pick up their first ball
or attempt to play their first game.
We tell them to: play by the rules, try your best, keep
working at it...you're not always going to win, but you must always try.
So, here is this nice all American family walking into
a basketball game.
They stand and sing the National Anthem, each with their
hand over their heart.
They stand and clap for both teams as they are announced,
and then they sit down and watch the contest.
The family begins shouting for their players, encouraging
the team, standing and applauding when a steal is pulled off, or a basket
is made.
Now, the opponent charges into one of our players, knocking
him down and a foul is called on us. As the "ref" sees it, he wasn't set
in time. It's a fraction of a second call.
But the yelling begins. A guy a couple rows behind this
all-American-family begins to object to the referee.
Does he stop with one objection? No. He's got it in for
the "ref," and the "ref's" a no good so-and-so who made a bad call on purpose,
you would think.
Isn't that the way we all do our work? We goof-up on
purpose. Wouldn't it be great if we all would have this kind of person at
our jobs, yelling at us when we make an error, and from then on, harassing
us at our every move?
I don't think so.
So the All-American-Family paid their five bucks to enjoy
a game, but someone in the crowd is taking the fun out of it. Pretty soon
the young son starts yelling at the ref, too, and mom and dad have to stop
him short and explain this behavior is unacceptable and is not the way we
cheer and encourage our team.
By now, however, a few others have joined in as their
team is behind.
By now, the obnoxious guy is not only cursing the referee,
he is yelling at a couple of the kids that made a "stupid --- pass" a "dumb
shot", and now the so-and-so coach set the best player (his son) on the bench.
Mind you, this is a school, a teaching environment mainly
made up of young people.
Several moms and dads are frustrated, not with the referees,
not with the players, not with the coaches, but with the obnoxious few loud
mouths in the crowd. When the swearing begins, we hope
that maybe, finally - the guy is thrown out, either by the principal,
superintendent, or the referees.
Sorry folks, but you few who insist on yelling at others
for what looks like an error are not perfect either, and it is showing big
time.
When we are in a group situation, let's enjoy ourselves,
but let's show some consideration and respect for others around us.
We can encourage, we can cheer, and we can even show
disappointment, but let's do it without becoming rude, mean, obnoxious and
a poor example for others.
Time-out should not be only for pre-schoolers, but I
think it would be good to have a time-out room outside the gymnasium for
out-of-control adults.
Until our fans truly learn to respect others, starting
with the flag at the beginning of our games and ending with the coaches and
referees, they are infringing on the rights and freedom of other fans.
The game starts out with reference to our flag, "what
so proudly we hail." Let's keep that respect like good Americans, through
to the end of the game, or for one, I say let's throw 'em out of the bleachers."
I think that is what good American's would do to preserve
the peace. What do you think? Are you with me?
"Oh say doth that star spangled banner yet wave, o'er
the land of the free, and the home of the brave."