New Jersey Nets Unhappy With Booing Boone?

Last night I was one of 12,314 people to attend the game of two of the more troubled franchises in sports: The Sacramento Kings at the New Jersey Nets. While a relatively new Nets fan, I have taken a liking to the team in the last few years. The prospect of the team leaving New Jersey has left a bad taste in the mouths of the Jersey fans who continue to show and attendance for this mediocre team has been struggling.

As reported on NJ.com, Vince Carter and Keyon Dooling took issue to the fact that fans were booing in the first half when the team was struggling and mocking Josh Boone following several missed free throws, including an air balled free throw attempt. I myself booed Boone loudly, especially following the air ball. 

For many years, as a Yankees and Rangers fan, it has become common to let players know when they are struggling. I feel that it should be a "drive" for the team to perform better. There are many aspects of this that makes the situation interesting.

1) The people at the games, including myself, have accepted that this is a team in limbo. There is a possibility that this team will jump to our neighboring state, New York, even though there is an offer for the team to play for free in Newark, NJ, an urban center and basketball city.

This plan has been rejected by Bruce "The Rat" Ratner even though his company's stock has fallen to $6 and he has received opposition from the "Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn" concerned citizens group. New Jersey and Brooklyn residents are both opposed to the plan, so why go forward? Anyway, back to the booing issue.

2) Josh Boone is a let down player. Ever since starring at UConn, he has been a seventh or eighth man at best for a sub par franchise, the Nets. It seems that the Nets fans have had enough of him, and air balling a free throw in a close game warrants booing. I know the Nets are doing much better than anticipated, but when they play well, it's time to keep it up and not fall back on the "low expectations from the beginning of the year" excuse.

3) The Nets are 7-12 at home but are only one game under .500. The play at the IZOD Center has been abysmal; denying that would be kidding yourself. There were a few games they should have won like against Chicago (come back to tie it with 2:00 left) but a game like last night should have been a blowout.

The fans play a pretty penny to continue to support a team that tells its fans that they are leaving them. Granted, there are easier ways to sit up close and personal, example, I paid 10 dollars on ebay to sit downstairs for last nights game and might be able to do it for Wednesday's game against the Grizzlies. But the attendance isn't as bad as people make it out to be. They were 22nd earlier in the year, which means there are still eight teams who draw less. 

Being a team near the Knicks brings up the comparisons all the time; if we're not selling out then to some the Nets are viewed as a failure. But I've been to games where all sections were filled this year, (vs. Chicago and Atlanta), and the people continue to support them. If we continue to show up to watch and support this team, we have the right to express our disappointment.

4) The Nets should be happy people give a damn. For the mess of a parking situation in the construction site known as the Meadowlands, the inaccessibility of the games as far as public transportation go, and the mediocrity of the team, there are still people who care. If people are booing, it's because they care.

There are people who get frustrated with the Nets play when it's poor, so Vince, Keyon: smile when you hear the boos, people give a damn about how you guys are playing. Let it be motivation, because when there's an interested fan base that is booing, when you win it will be so much better.

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