DebAte-T-Q: What is Appropriate Fan Behavior?
by Matt Daddy on May 10, 2011 9:00 AM PDT
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Fans have always been a major part of any sporting event. No one knows this better than Duck fans who get to enjoy all the benefits that Autzen Stadium and Matthew Knight Arena provide. The raucous sold old stands, the sunken field with the crowd basically on top of the game, the knowledgeable fans who know to cheer and scream until their throats are raw for 3 days afterward. But at what point do fans cross the line?
It could be completely harmless like chanting overrated, or booing the officials, or it could verge on the ridiculous when you're talking about fans interrupting a game or booing actually injured players. Let's take a look at a couple of situations: booing players, booing refs, chanting overrated, chanting obscenities, interrupting play by being on the field and rushing the field after a win.
Matt: Personally I think fans need to know their place. You're there to be fans. That means cheering on your team, screaming as loud as you can to distract the other team and make it difficult for them to perform, and helping sway opinion to the home field. That means you need to boo when calls don't go your way. That means you need to cheer when your team scores. That means you need to be as loud as possible when the other team has the ball (both in basketball and football) so that it makes it hard for the other team to communicate in such a noisy environment.
Chanting "overrated" or obscenities is just childish. It's demeaning to the fans and shows just how immature they really are. "YEAH!!! You weren't as good as others thought you were and we're now better than THAT!!!" Or my favorite "BULLSHIT - BULLSHIT!!!" Great, you have nothing more useful to do than make me spend the next 5 minutes explaining to my kids why 4-5k college students think that cursing together will be helpful.
As for rushing the field. Are you kidding me? Act like you've been there before. If it's during the game, I hope no one would try and defend that (I'm looking at you Arizona fans). If it's after the game? It better have meant something. If you rush the court after beating OSU to prove you're not the worst team in Pac 10 history, that's just embarrassing. If you rush the field because you just beat OSU to go to the Rose Bowl... that's something different. That's unbridled joy welling up and expressing itself in uncontrollable physical exertion and trying to find the nearest large patch of earth to run around on.
Anything other than that is disruptive and doesn't a shine a positive light on the fan base. Think about the list of the worst fans, and I'm sure some of the things I mention are consistent through each.
Gorbachav5: Fans do need to know their place. They need to know that their place is at a sporting event being entertained. And if that entertainment involves yelling things, so be it!
I will concede that there are lines fans shouldn't cross. Obviously, illegal is illegal. It's a crime to punch the Husky fan sitting next to you (as much as we wish it weren't). It's trespassing to run on the field during the game. After the game though? Rush the field! What's all this sanctimony about "acting like you've been there?" I HAVEN'T been there. I'll NEVER be there. That's why I'm an accountant who watches talented people play the game. At the very least, let me feel good about celebrating on the very field where my team just won a game. I do agree with you about obscenities. Sports are entertainment for children as well as adults, and I'd appreciate if my kids weren't bombarded with foul language. Don't throw things at other people. Don't get so blindingly drunk that you forget all tact and propriety and do something ridiculous. When you start impeding other fans' enjoyment of the event, that's when you've taken it too far. Otherwise, knock yourself out!
Matt: Booing isn't harmless. I understand that this is entertainment, but so is my daughter's 3rd grade basketball game. I would never think about booing anyone on her team. They'd probably break down in tears and I'd have to deal with big angry Daddy for why I booed their daughter. And rightfully so. Why is it different in college? Because the players are bigger? Would it be ok at a high school game? How about Junior High? It's never right to boo in amateur sports (exception: Unless you're booing the refs. They're paid professionals and should be held to a standard and if they violate that they should be held accountable by the fans).
You see, I relate chanting overrated to the same thing as chanting obscenities. It's childish and unnecessary. It's also incredibly unoriginal. For how terrible "Your-Son-Hates-You" was to chant at Mike Bibby's dad, "overrated" is just as terrible on the opposite end of the spectrum. One was too original, too poignant, too hurtful. The other too unoriginal and too boring. I'm sorry if being an expressive fan that wants to chant things at games is going to take some thought and creativity. That's what makes the Darryl Strawberry chant so great. It was simple, yet at the time really original and got in the head of the player and effected his performance. It wasn't obscene and it also wasn't demeaning to your own team's performance.
If you're going to be a fan and feel like you just can't enjoy the game without chanting something, or screaming at an individual player, at least put some thought into it. Otherwise, you're just another neanderthal idiot fan in the same category as the guy who gets too drunk, or the cursing at the field behind me. Both impede my enjoyment of the game.
Gorbachav5: I think you're trying to cram all fans into a one-size-fits-all Nike brand, athletic fit Oregon t-shirt. I hate to break it to you, but we don't all fit that particular model. At least not any more. It's the damn baby weight I put on.
Gorby happy.
There you have it. What is the line of appropriate fan behavior? Are fans a part of the game for both sides and have the right to chant, berate, and disparage a player, team or referee? Or should they be more subdued and realize their place is to enjoy the entertainment being provided to them?
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So Gorby chants “Overrated”, because he stares at spreadsheets all week?
I’d be interested in knowing what his “blow off steam” activities would be for the following professions:
Painter
Musician
Psychologist
Geographer
Engineer
Author
General Contractor
Press Secretary
Mechanic
FDA Inspector
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
General Contractor - Jumping up and down in a construction flash mob while shooting nail guns in the air; Drinking excessive amounts of Coors.
Painter – Painting Hitler stache’s and Abe Lincoln top hats on all pictures of polictical figures; Drinking excessive amounts of Cristal.
Absurdity is my favorite.
No, I chant over-rated because it’s fun and it’s an insult directed at the other team.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
You’re giving me so many mixed signals!
Your opinion is overrated!
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
Right OR Wrong
I love you guys! I can feel the mob mentality of the stands just by reading your debates…LOVE IT!!!
Let me tell you what isn’t appropriate fan behaviour. Booing injuries.
In an unrelated story, I feel like you haven’t hated me enough recently. Let the madness begin!
The internet's most successful troll!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!11
Cal Football: I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you. Never love anything.
by CalBandGreat on May 10, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Apparently my crazy friend didn’t realize that that’s what you guys were saying all along.
Cal Football: I loved them once and they broke my heart. Let that be a lesson to you. Never love anything.
by CalBandGreat on May 10, 2011 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
It’s true that we didn’t get into the booing injuries thing. Honestly, I forgot all about it when going through this.
Here’s the tough thing on that – Booing someone who’se legitimately injured is one of those things that crosses the line. But a player who fakes an injury is maybe the most boo-worthy player there is.
Should fans be a bit more cautious about booing when a guy goes down to ensure that it really is fake? Yeah, probably. I’m not going to get worked up about it, though. It’s still just a word, and it’s not obscene or anything.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
It’s still just a word, and it’s not obscene or anything.
Maybe we should yell ’HURT!" when players are hurt.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
I could get behind this. We could also politely ask whether or not the player is faking it, but to make it work, we’ll need proper inflection.
“Fa-king? Fa-king?”
Defending maligned chants since 2009
Oh snap (wait for it.......)!
Ya know….There’s a reason it’s called a “Tedford timeout….”
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 10:36 AM PDT up reply actions
Booing someone who’se legitimately injured is one of those things that crosses the line
Well, my work here is done.
The internet's most successful troll!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Very sad argument...
When you complain about fans booing injuries when your team is the team faking injuries to begin with…
Crossing the line is when a team fakes injuries so poorly, the opposing fans don’t know whether he’s faking or it’s legit. Yes, your work here is done.
by Quackhead503 on May 10, 2011 12:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually, my argument has been incredibly happy in recent days. It spent a day at the waterpark and even got some cotton candy. What did your argument do recently? Watch Real Housewives Of Atlanta and awkwardly interact with a pantsless JTLight? Ya, that’s what I thought! And no he NEVER puts on pants. EVER!
The internet's most successful troll!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
Obviously you didn't read the rules.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions
So is putting unnecessary U's in your words like behavior
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Who do you all think you are?
Acadian Traverse? You sirs, are no Acadian Traverse.
Absurdity is my favorite.
No, but I’ve seen him shotgun a 24 oz can of beer like it was how you were suppose to drink 24 oz of beer.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
I thought my ears started burning today at work
My favourite way way to drink beer is anyway that gets from outside my mouth to inside.
That said. When Matt Takimoto asks you if you want to shotgun a beer, you shotgun a beer. With whatever beer you have at your disposal at that time.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on May 11, 2011 7:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Boo 'em all and let God sort 'em out.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
Gotta agree with Twist on this one. Damn you, Twist!
First off, I am not categorically against booing players. There are things players can do to deserve it.
Faking injuries is incredibly bush-league, and as Gorby said, it’s the most boo-worthy thing there is. But here’s the thing: I don’t always know how to tell when it’s faked or not. Sure, it’s easy to see on the replay that the Cal player was faking injuries. But I was at that game, and it was not obvious to me at the time. (I wasn’t looking right at it when it happened.)
Sometimes, you can’t tell whether a player is legitimately injured or not. For my money, don’t boo any of them — ever — and let the court of public opinion (or the PAC-12, or the NCAA) sort them out later.
"[Autzen Stadium's] steep concrete banks and closed ends turn a small but rabid crowd from WAC-sized cheering section into a horde of bees with megaphones capable of reaching 127 decibels of hatenoise." -Spencer Hall
by ProbablyMonty on May 10, 2011 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions
Booing injured players - bad form
When suspicious, we should chant ’Ole, ole ole ole".
Absurdity is my favorite.
by daisyduck on May 10, 2011 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Singing that while holding up yellow cards would be freaking SWEET.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
Honestly, this is good.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Matt Daddy, are you honestly saying that you never boo amateur players?
You don’t boo when the fuskies in their awful uniforms run out onto Rich Brooks field, jumping up and down, taunting the crowd and egging us on? You didn’t boo at those clowns when, led by one Rick Neuheisel, they partied in our stadium for 20 minutes after their victory in 2002?
If you surround something with hyphens – as if to separate it from the text like this – but you don’t leave spaces between the thing you’re trying to separate and the hyphens, SBNation assumes that you’re trying to do a strikethrough.
"[Autzen Stadium's] steep concrete banks and closed ends turn a small but rabid crowd from WAC-sized cheering section into a horde of bees with megaphones capable of reaching 127 decibels of hatenoise." -Spencer Hall
by ProbablyMonty on May 10, 2011 10:39 AM PDT up reply actions
What's the point?
If you boo them you’re giving them exactly what they want, more attention. I’m not going to sit there and fight their immaturity and asinine behavior with immaturity and more asinine behavior.
There are more creative and intelligent ways to react to opposing teams. For instance one of the funniest I saw was during a high school state tournament and when the opposing team players were being announced the entire student section turned their backs and opened up a newspaper and pretended to read. It was hilarious seeing them all do it in unison. So much better then the stupid “boooooo.”
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
And again – that’s great. But not all people have the forethought (or, quite frankly, want to put in the effort) to do something like that. Booing isn’t creative and intelligent, but it doesn’t have to be. It gets the job done.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
What job?
You’re communicating your displeasure with a player? Like it’s necessary? How is it any different then the belligerent drunk screaming obscenities by his lonesome? It gets the job done. He basically communicating the same thing.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Now you’re being semantic. It’s a figure of speech. And there’s a definite difference between “boo” and “fuck you.” There’s a reason why one is allowed on TV and the other isn’t.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
I hear the pitt crew say “fuck you” on TV all the time.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
Huh, I guess I should really be using "boo" more often.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Sure, that is more entertaining than the boo
but is more blatant in its disrespect of the opponent, which I thought we were saying is a reason not to boo amateur athletes? The boo is no more lacking in creativity than the cheer is, it is just the natural response to mark your disdain for something.
Organized “I _ I Believe _ I Believe We_ etc” cheers are great, but it doesn’t make just screaming your head off lame
"I think booing players is never acceptable"
really? never? I think there are many times when it is more then okay to boo players
how about this kid?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrXOhbypuVg
or this kid?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHM9O_zfVpI
how about this catcher?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad0AUw3FRbc
can I boo Elizabeth Lambert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvEobeNfGcc
or maybe this guy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKvq6FVBMBk&feature=related
#88
What would booing accomplish in anyone of those circumstances?
Oh we’re going to let that player know that we fans do not approve of that behavior… as if it’s not obvious. On top of that there really shouldn’t be an opportunity to boo that player as they should be immediately ejected and never allowed to play again. That’s a coach and league issue to deal with and not a fan issue.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Booing is the most universal criticism as a group
If you could get 100-1000,000 to say "we don’t approve of that behavior" as a whole then that would be better then booing, but that’s not realistic. Easy things to do as a group, cheer, clap, boo, OOOOOOOOO, etc.. I’m not going to cheer or clap for any of those situations so booing works, it shows disapproval and fans don’t actually get involved. It achieves fan involvement without fans actually going on the court/field and doing something about these inappropriate behaviors.
#88
You're not booing to accomplish anything.
People boo players to make themselves feel better for having wasted time watching what they consider a sub-par effort. That’s all.
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
If you replace “boo players” with “go on the internet”, you’d be profound.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
by JShufelt on May 10, 2011 12:41 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
W-w-w-w-w-what is it?
I am terrified of being RebeccaRoll’d
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
I would have to agree with that statement.
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
That was not
Nolan Ryan beating the crap out of Robin Ventura
Absurdity is my favorite.
by daisyduck on May 10, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Oh my lord, that is brutal.
Every single guy’s foot got hurt, amazing.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Being booed by thousands of people is really, really awesome.
"I have a commanding voice." - Ed Orgeron
I've been booed by about 200
and that was pretty cool.
I credit my urine for the victory.
http://taborsbigleaguechew.blogspot.com
by mackjones23 on May 10, 2011 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions
I followed a band that was boo’d off stage by about 200 people.
That was the most nerve-wracking show I’ve ever played. The crowd was out for blood.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
You want out for blood?
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
The Golden Rule...
…has ANYBODY ever heard of it?
by Quacker Backer on May 10, 2011 10:44 AM PDT reply actions
“Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.”
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
If you are a rule and you are gold, you probably were touched inappropriately by a Greek king.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
"I LAHV GOOOOOOLLLLLLDDDDDHHHHHHH!!!!!!
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
washington sucks.
Our Acrobatics & Tumbling team can beat up your Acrobatics & Tumbling team.
Addicted to Quack, where Matt Daddy can't fall asleep unless a grown man in drag sings "Daisy Bell" to him.
by Takimoto on May 10, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 4 recs
i think ‘washington sucks’ is technically just an addendum to the Golden Rule. Point of clarification.
by Quacker Backer on May 10, 2011 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Please don't mess with the Golden Rule.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Ben Kingma’s Fusky older sister, Kristi, wrote a great piece on this subject earlier this year for ESPN.
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 10, 2011 10:44 AM PDT reply actions
Ms. Kingma can write.
good article by a college athlete that actually sound like she made it to class.
by Quacker Backer on May 10, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
Playing and watching football is not a highbrow endeavour (note the extra 'u')
As such, booing is an acceptable form of taunting and/or showing displeasure.
It is the most harmless of the spontaneous options not requiring extension pre-meditated or choreographed responses.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
So then help me understand
Why is OK to boo a college amateur athlete and not a high school, middle school, or elementary school player? Because we pay more for to watch the event? Because our need for entertainment is greater? Where’s the imaginary line between being an acceptable form of displeasure and being a rude jerk of a fan?
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
I think college is where you draw the line
They are over 18, adults, and are being paid (scholarships) to play in what amounts to a multi-billion dollar industry.
Honestly, if they can vote, be drafted or volunteer into the military, they are old enough to tolerate some booing.
I disagree with the fundamental assertion that booing constitutes being a “rude jerk of a fan”. I think booing is essentially harmless. Hurling expletives or personal insults is different from a generic boooooo!
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
Hurling expletives or personal insults is different from a generic boooooo!
But isn’t that just cause it’s more socially acceptable? Again, how is it different? You’re trying to express your displeasure with an amateur athlete. Like the fan who is there to be entertained is required to receive a certain amount of enjoyment and if they don’t, they are well within their rights to express that. Why is there a right in the first place that requires us to come up with acceptable forms and unacceptable forms?
Why not just go to the game to be entertained with no expectation. Go for enjoyment and NOT displeasure.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
In Mexico it’s acceptable and enjoyable to throw bags of urine at soccer players. Doesn’t mean it’s ok, or right.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
by Matt Daddy on May 10, 2011 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
If true
And you are a soccer player in Mexico, you know that’s a potential occupational hazard going in, like getting booed in America. If your ego is so fragile that you cannot take a little booing, then you may need to consider some counseling or another activity.
"What the hell was that?"
"Spaceball One, they've gone to plaid!"
My ego is fragile enough that I cannot take bags of urine being thrown at me. Should I consider counseling?
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
No but you should consider not playing soccer in Mexico.
"What the hell was that?"
"Spaceball One, they've gone to plaid!"
by QuackinAK on May 10, 2011 11:46 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good for Mexico. I’m glad it’s not acceptable here. I am glad it’s acceptable here to yell a harmless yet meaningful word like “boo” when something happens in a sporting event.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
she probably deserved it.
Quack Quack Bitches!
by Quack Addict on May 10, 2011 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions
whatever you do
Don’t google Amateur aunt… I think I know why she was bood.
Quack Quack Bitches!
by Quack Addict on May 10, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
What starts with “P” and ends in “orn”?
No. The answer is Popcorn, you perverts.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
I’m glad I didn’t google that at work.
My workplace is VERY against popcorn.
Absurdity is my favorite.
Besides fish (yes, someone microwaved fish at my office before)
is there ANYTHING worse than popcorn that someone can screw up and make the office smell terrible forever?
If someone makes popcorn at my office, I get the bags of urine ready for throwing.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
What makes you think I don’t already?
Okay GROSS! I just crossed the girl-grossout-threshold. You boys may continue forward, but I’ve got to stay here.
Absurdity is my favorite.
What makes you think I don’t already?
This:
Okay GROSS! I just crossed the girl-grossout-threshold. You boys may continue forward, but I’ve got to stay here.
It's spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-R-E-J-E-C-T-E-D"
You are right. I stared urine in the face, and it was I that blinked, not urine.
Absurdity is my favorite.
Urine does not like to be challenged
Urine will attack those who dare to challenge and will assert its dominance in the wild.
The "Bill Simmons" of ATQ
Do NOT smile while staring urine in the face.
Speed Endurance Talent is how Track Town USA plays football. WWWWWWWWWWWWin The Day
And if you must....
Make sure it’s a closed mouth smile.
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 11, 2011 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I will agree with you wholeheartedly on this one. Burnt popcorn is a crime against humanity.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
wait
are we still talking about the metaphorical popcorn or…?
Quack Quack Bitches!
by Quack Addict on May 10, 2011 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
At Autzen it’s acceptable and enjoyable to throw dog turds and cups of dog urine at opposing fans and players.
It’s true. I read it on a Husky fansite!
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
Completely true. Ian Furness said so on his radio show back in 2008. As far as he’s concerned, fans in Eugene define “no class”. I, for one, would like to punch him in the throat then rub his face in a warm bowl of Chuckwagon ’n Gravy. I think THAT would be acceptable and enjoyable.
Cal Bears football... Doing less with more since 2002.
I believe you attribute too much to boooing
Booing is a generic noise. It’s barely even a word. It’s like European whistling at a sporting event. Would you object to fans whistling? Is it simply any noise making that expresses displeasure that you find objectionable?
I cheer when I’m happy and I’ll boo if I’m pissed off enough.
Though I do confess to heckling OSU marching band members that were somehow in our section during Civil War a few years back. But really, they did look like New Year’s Eve threw up all over Halloween, what with their shiny tasseled party hats and all.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
Is it simply any noise making that expresses displeasure that you find objectionable?
Yes. What gives a fan the right to voice displeasure? It’s that same mentality (WARNING: Slippery slope argument coming up) that leads to “I need to yell obscenities, or I need to rush the field and beat up that player” We can all say that booing is harmless and that’s only because we’ve come to socially accept it (like bags of urine in Mexico).
But the fundamental mentality that as a fan I have a right to a certain amounts of enjoyment and if I don’t receive that I’m going to take action is flawed.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
A fan's right to voice displeasure is divinely given and should be written
into the Constitution.
Voicing our displeasure is a God Given Right as an American, dammit! It’s protected free speech. (only half joking).
There are 3 pretty easily defined tiers here and yes, it’s based on what is socially acceptable in this country, as it should be:
1. Booing. A generic noise made to voice one’s displeasure at a team or person.
2. Profane heckling or personal attacks. Still legal, but bad form and depending on what is said, can cross that blurry, grey line of acceptability.
3. Illegal actions such as rushing the field to attack an umpire, throwing D batteries, or hurling bags of urine if in Mexico.
Doesn’t it all come down to personal responsibility? You don’t blame Chip Kelly for Kiko Alonzo’s actions, right? Just because someone crosses the line doesn’t mean booing led him down that path.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
What’s funny is that in Philadelphia, that list is backwards.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
by Gorbachav5 on May 10, 2011 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on May 10, 2011 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions
And when the Raiders play.
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on May 11, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions
The $40 - $2000 I spend
To watch these athletes perform gives me the right to express my displeasure with the product. I don’t care if they don’t get paid or aren’t “professional” It’s a known quantity going in that, ‘if i don’t perform i may get booed’ If you don’t want that kind of pressure go play at SOU or OIT.
Top level college football is a profession, i don’t care what the letter of the law says. Criticism is a fact of life. If i’m not allowed to boo because it makes the team feel bad then I ask you, What gives you the right to cheer for your team when they score a touchdown, doesn’t that make the other team feel bad? Doesn’t that HELP demoralize the other team? Why can i ONLY express pleasure and never displeasure?
Quack Quack Bitches!
by Quack Addict on May 10, 2011 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions
"Right?"
By that token, what gives fans the “right” to voice their appreciation? What an absurd argument.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on May 10, 2011 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
They really don't have that right either.
Ever seen golf or tennis? You’d be an outcast (and probably kicked out) if you cheered or booed at the wrong times. As a fan you have to know your place as part of the game. I even talked about how booing refs was a good thing in how it can help sway calls for your team. What part of booing players is helpful? Most people agree that it probably doesn’t do much to the psyche of the player and for some players on opposing teams it actually helps.
These things take a level of sophistication and knowledge of the game and aren’t “rights” that you have as a fan. Just like knowing not to scream in someone’s back swing.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
What do golf and tennis have to do with college football?
The one thing you can take from such a statement is that tradition dictates what is acceptable an what is not for each sport. The evidence is overwhelming that booing an opponent in college football ( and even, whether you like it or not, their fans) is acceptable behavior. Booing an injury is NOT acceptable (outside of Philly), and in the case of our fans they might be well-served to err on the side of caution regarding the “Tedford Flop” incidents.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on May 10, 2011 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Booing an injury is NOT acceptable
I agree and I think that would be hard to debate. I also think people have the wrong impression, I’m not against negative cheering. I’m not for only positive cheering. I’m for smart fans. One of the great things about Autzen stadium is that the fans are smart and understand when to get really loud, and when to be quiet. They understand football fan protocol. It makes it more difficult on the opposing team. How is booing smart?
If you boo an opposing player chances are you either just made him mad and now he’s going to play even harder against your team, or he’ll ignore it and you just wasted valuable vocal chord strength for when you really need to cheer.
If you boo one of your own players. You’re just a jerk. That doesn’t mean you can’t groan or sigh or throw your hands and say “what the hell are you doing?” when he does something wrong. It means that booing one of your players who is working his ass off for your entertainment deserves more respect than that.
I’m all for creative negative cheers (like the Darryl Strawberry one or the Yankee’s “Who’s your Daddy” to Pedro). Again, it shows you’re an intelligent and engaged fan trying to do whatever you can to help your team win. Booing doesn’t do any of that. It’s just dumb.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Now I'm totally confused
“negative cheering” is okay, but “booing” is unacceptable because its too base, or not creative enough, or simply “dumb”.
Wouldn’t a creative “negative” cheer actually be more likely to fire up an opponent?
Isn’t booing the simplest form of “negative cheering”?
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
Isn’t booing the simplest form of "negative cheering"?
Yeah. Like I said, I’m not against negative cheering. But if you feel you have to be negative at a sporting event, at least put some thought into it. If you’re going to be negative while being entertained (which doesn’t sound like a lot of fun to me) at least try and make it useful. Try and get in the head of the player or distract them, or actually demean them (without crossing a line) so their concentration is off.
How does booing accomplish anything except fire up the player, or give them the attention they want (like huskies celebrating on the O)?
Otherwise, be a smart fan and cheer for your team when you’re supposed to and support them. Get behind them and help keep them fired up. Someone smart said to me “I think there are times to boo I’m not blanketly opposed to it.”
I just struggle trying to figure out when those times are.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Although I understand your point
I just disagree. I don’t drive down to Eugene hours early, drink a bunch of beer and Tequila shots, so that I can use my brain and come up with inventive taunts.
Football is a place where one can be boorish without violating social norms. I go there to root for my team and boo when appropriate.
I think that booing is basically benign and one not need worry about when the appropriate time to boo is.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
I will make a point of clarification however,
I do dislike booing a team as they first take the field. With the exception of UW and OSU, we should at least give our opponents the opportunity to do something “boo-worthy” before booing them.
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
You draw the line after high school. As I stated in my argument, that’s where both attending a sporting event and playing a sport fundamentally change. flyduckfly stated it well in the comment above. The level of maturity of players, the dynamics of college sport, the expectations of fans and the reasons for attending games.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
It's a moving line
and it’s dependent upon how removed the crowd is from those participating. I’ve been to large scale midget hockey games (14-16 years) played in front of 10-12,000 people where a player was booed after committing a major penalty. However I’d bet that it wasn’t the guys who go to class or new Masoli outside of football who were booing him against UCLA in 2008.
I’m not saying this line is when it’s appropriate. I think it’s when the mob mentality of a crowd rationalizes when it’s ok.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on May 11, 2011 7:41 AM PDT up reply actions
Booing is not only acceptable but part of the game.
Not only that, some players thrive on it. Where are the people with sack in this country any more? As far as I’m concerned, any college kid who can’t handle a little adversity probably shouldn’t be playing football at the highest intercollegiate level. Now, racial slurs and the like are certainly going over the line, let me make it clear. Drunken idiocy and rude/aggressive/violent behavior towards opposing fans and players is over the line. But booing and “overrated?” Booing? Really? One of the most fundamental parts of sports worldwide? What next? Should we start handing out “participation medals” to the Washington States of the world? Tell them that the Rose Bowl and no bowl are the same? Take all the incentive and fun out of the game for everyone involved? Yes, every player is just as special as the next. Bobby Walk-on is equal in every way to LaMichael James. Joey Joe-Joe Junior Shabbado is Andrew Luck. And they’re sensitive! They can’t take the sound “booooooo.” Their mental makeup is just too fragile. Sheesh.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on May 10, 2011 11:10 AM PDT reply actions
For, while the particular four-letter word being litigated here is perhaps more distasteful than most others of its genre, it is nevertheless often true that one man’s vulgarity is another’s lyric.
- Justice Harlan
Pretty much my approach to what is appropriate.
Fuck this shit?
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on May 10, 2011 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions
BOOOOOOOOOOOO
This article sucks! Mostly because both people made good points and I have to agree with both and at the same time disagree with both.
You cause me Debate with myself sirs! Ok, I’m for serious now. There is a line. The great debate is where is that line? In high school our crowd was brutal, we were booed, we booed and chanted all kinds of crazy things. It’s one of the things that made high school sports for me so much fun, having a ruckus crowd behind us. The caveat is, When the crowd chanted things like bullshit and “that’s alright, that’s ok, your going to pump our gas someday!” (when we lost a game) the parents in the crowd were very seldom a part of those chants. It was the student sections, our contemporaries if you will. It’s absolutely not peachy if a 40 year old man starts booing high school kids on the court or field, but a 17 year old who is part of the whole experience is held to a different standard.
Once you’ve made it into a major college program as an athlete, you are no longer a high school adolescent who needs to be coddled and protected. You are held to a higher standard and expected to perform and conduct yourself in a certain way. No matter what walk of life you choose you are going to face criticism and adversity, in college athletics you’re going to fell that in a very public manor.
If you as a college athlete fake an injury you are going to be pounded for it. I have no sympathy, zero, for that athlete. Now an athlete that goes down legitimately is a different story. I think that our crowd is pretty good at diagnosing the difference. It’s hard when there are 50-100 thousand eyes on you to fake an injury and get away with it. At no point last season did I think fans were booing a legitimate injury. When Owusu went down the crowd was silent. There will always be a minority who will immediately assume the worst and start a boo, but I feel that Autzen is a very smart place. Those who saw the injury happen and it’s legitimacy are quick to hush the crowd and pay proper respect.
Autzen like ATQ is a highly intelligent fan base. We might not have the most creative, original or amazing chants. It’s hard to organize a yellow out, or a chant more difficult than “Go… Ducks…” But the one thing everyone knows in that stadium is how to be disruptive to the other team while giving our team a HUGE advantage by knowing when to be quiet.
I think that Oregon’s fanbase, and ATQ’s frequenters are among the best, if not the best in the nation. If there was one thing I could change about the way I experience a game in Autzen stadium I wouldn’t change a thing. I love the chants, I love the open expression of emotion. I’m 24 and energetic. Maybe in 20 – 30 years when life has taught me many lessons I’ll have a new outlook and be in Matts camp. But as a contemporary of the players who are on the field today I don’t see any problem with the way the Ducks Fanbase is.
Quack Quack Bitches!
Never mind. This has changed my opinion forever on crowd taunting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjnJ8xs6ibs
To Alcohol: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems!
Don't worry Darryl held up well to the taunting over all those years.
It’s not like he tried to find some sort of artificial escape or anything.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on May 11, 2011 7:46 AM PDT up reply actions
You know what the best way to tell a team, player, or coach to go fuck themselves is?
Beating the shit out of them on the field. No reason to Boo a team or player unless they’ve earned it. Fusky players making the “teary eyes” facial motions as Costa lay writhing on their sideline is grounds for some mild cursing and heavy booing IMO. Rick Neuheisel being a slimy weasel coach? All that’s needed is 60 minutes of this.
The "Bill Simmons" of ATQ
I find some particular chants worth focusing on
Utah State’s “Winning team losing team” = appropriate
Chanting “Get off the field” at Bob Stoops during the oklahoma game at Autzen = appropriate
ASU fans chanting “PLO” at Steve Kerr after his father was assassinated in the Middle East = not appropriate.
"I tell you the truth," Canzano answered, "Before Abraham was, I suck."
There's another category:
Stupid, as in “too stupid to assign a level of appropriativity”.
Example: Chanting “Your dad hates you!” at Mike Bibby.
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
Or "Love's a faggot."
Our Acrobatics & Tumbling team can beat up your Acrobatics & Tumbling team.
Addicted to Quack, where Matt Daddy can't fall asleep unless a grown man in drag sings "Daisy Bell" to him.
what about “Tim Hardaway hate Ryan Appleby”??
Life is about growth. People are not perfect when they're 21 years old. - Bill Walton
Or "Brennan has a mangina!"
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on May 10, 2011 5:51 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes.
My issue a couple seasons ago with “overrated” had nothing to do with in-game chanting. It was the 40 or so Duck fans who gathered 15 minutes after the game ended to chant “overrated” directly at the visiting Utah fans. That was embarrassing. Really, the fans are “overrated”? Clearly the two ladies sitting 10 feet from had let their team down. If they had just cheered louder, there’s no question the Utes win going away.
I guess this isn’t exactly parallel to what benzduck was describing, but in this case I was pissed at the stupidity of some fellow Duck fans.
Cal Bears football... Doing less with more since 2002.
"Overrated": Overrated
"Hello, other team’s players and fans! Now that we have beaten you, we will trumpet our victory over your squad, the nth-ranked team, as evidence of our giant-killing capabilities!
“However, we must point out that you obviously weren’t as good as everyone thought you were. Which, if we thought about it for more than a nanosecond, would indicate that our victory, while truly magnificent, might not be as relevant in the grand scheme of things as we would like it to be, since we have actually proved to the world that you suck, and indeed should never have been ranked that high in the first place.
“Perhaps we should be pointing at ourselves and chanting ‘UN-der-RA-ted’. But this would not serve as a public humiliation of you, the fans of the higher ranked team; and we are more interested in making you feel bad than just being proud of ourselves for choosing the correct team to entertain us.
“Since there is no easy way to shout ‘You Suck’ in a rhythmic and mellifluous sing-song manner, we will continue the grand tradition, passed down through generations, of chanting our evaluation of your relative status in a slight variation of the internationally recognized melody, ‘Neener neener neener’.
“This meets our public humiliation of opponent standards, requires little thought and less vocal ability, and can be performed while shitfaced.
“Clap, clap, clap clap clap.”
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
by benzduck on May 11, 2011 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Utah State
Is that an all guy school? I watched about 4 student section videos and nary a chick to be found.
Absurdity is my favorite.
It's obviously a slippery slope to do this, but I think booing is justified if someone pulls an Aaron Tipoti or Chase Thomas and flops.
ESPECIALLY if they’re back on the field the next play.
If you see a guy’s leg get rolled up in a pile or if someone gets rocked and is laying motionless on the field, it’s totally wrong.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on May 10, 2011 2:30 PM PDT reply actions
It would be best to err on the side of caution.
Some are more obvious than others, though.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on May 10, 2011 2:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I have no problem booing player performance
I’m with Gorby here. Booing poor performances is appropriate, harmless, and sometimes hilarious. Some of these prima donnas need a kick in the pants. I have absolutely no problem with voicing displeasure and pleasure with on-field performances when I go to a paid event with grown men playing a sport. This is not 3rd grade girls basketball. College football is a major sport, and college sports shouldn’t be lumped into the amateur sport category with high school sports, elementary school sports, and beer league softball. These men are earning scholarships and counted on to perform at a high level. Of course, booing is for performance only. I hate booing injuries, even if faked, though booing is totally acceptable if a player trots back out on the field for the next play and looks fine.
The problem with the one portion of Matt Daddy’s argument (because I agreed with everything else) is there is an unwritten code for fan behavior for when booing is acceptable. It’s one of those circumstances where you know it when you see it. There’s no hard lines that can or should be drawn here, as every situation is different. If you don’t want to boo, that’s fine. Just don’t expect me to act like this is Kidsports when my favorite team’s quarterback couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat for 4 quarters and looks like he’s dogging it, or if we’re down by 21 in the 4th quarter and we run 3 draws up the middle and punt. I’m really against this whole argument that “they’re just kids.” When you hit 18 and go off to college or whatever profession you decide to pursue, you might not be wise, mature, or fully done growing, but you’ve crossed the line into adulthood. Expectations need to be higher.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
is there is an unwritten code for fan behavior for when booing is acceptable
And when is that? When players aren’t performing up to fans expectations? General poor performance? I’m not trying to be a smartass, but I have a hard determining a player (especially one on your team) deserves to be booed.
And you may be against the whole “they’re kids” argument, but I’m wholeheartedly against the “well I paid for my ticket so I have the right as a fan.” I’d rather err on the side of being too supportive and encouraging then look like a jackass. Ever been at a game and seen a guy sitting there booing at the wrong time? I’ll bet if you went over and said, you’re not supposed to be booing (our player, the injured kid, etc) he’d give you all the same arguments I’m seeing here about his rights, and it’s socially acceptable, and unwritten rules on booing.
Constantly making Daisy cry
The Daily Faberian
Not trying to be self-righteous here, but I know it when I see it. I can control myself as a fan, and I don’t like being judged for when I choose to boo. I have some self-respect and class, and I don’t boo if it’s not warranted. I can’t make any promises for other people, especially the few drunk jackass fans that there are out there, but I can control myself, and I think most other fans who choose to boo can as well. Being against all booing of players just because a few fans don’t when to control themselves is a silly argument.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
We could always institute
WHISTLING as they do in most of Europe instead of booing. I see it in tennis matches all the time (the only European sports I watch).
"David Paulson dropped a ball one time just to see what it felt like. But he didn't like it so he decided not to do it again." -Mark Asper
How did this thread go this far
Without anyone debating the appropriateness of the boo vs the ever popular boo-urns?
by OregonNYC on May 10, 2011 9:30 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I love the DebAte-T-Q series
thanks for posting these, Matt. Its just too bad you’re wrong.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
The #1 crime a college football fan can commit:
Booing the other team’s Marching Band. Worst is pouring beer on the visiting band (rude and wasting beer).
Unversity of Oregon, Class of 2006. Currently spreading the Duck love in Ann Arbor, MI.
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