I got an interesting e-mail from a local sports fan who said he attended his first boys high school basketball game in many years this week.
He wound leaving early. He got disgusted by one loud-mouthed fan who spent the whole game critisizing the home team and by what he preceived as a lack of sportsmanship by the visiting team.
As sportswriters, we get sort of immune to these things because we go to so many events, but things have changed a lot over the years. I don’t know how coaches put up with it, especially the old-school guys like Ray Lauwers, Jack Michael and Tom Williams.
I replied to this disgruntled fan that there are many problems in high school sports, but the good still outweighs the bad.
Hey Niles, as you know I am at quite a few high school sporting events and I don’t really think things are “that” bad. Of course once and a while there is a bad crowd, but for the most part, I believe high school sporting events are positive experiences. As a side note I would just like to add I enjoy the blog. I just started a blog for the media center over at Carlson and I think it is a great way to provide information and encourage discussion. I’m sure it will catch on as more people become aware of the site.
Although I think the writer of the e-mail is right in that there is much more disrespect by fans and even players in sports today than say 10, 20, 30 years ago. I also think he needs to notice that general respect and standards within our society has fallen. Don’t blame sports for reflecting that.
I am an athletic trainer, and cover many sporting events in the Huron League. I think the atmosphere at sporting events is just fine. A little yelling and heckling is normal, even fun. I wouldn’t call it “disrespect,” it’s sports. You’re supposed to have a general dislike for your opponent; but notice how all is forgiven in the post-game handshakes. These kids know it’s all for fun, and intensity like that can be very fun.