It is becoming more commonplace for fans of NHL hockey teams to needlessly bash other clubs and their fans. Why?
Is it because they think their team is better than the rest? Or is it because they have been repeatedly bashed themselves?
Whatever the reason, it seems to be spirraling out of control. When I visit Bleacher Report or club website forums, all I see is absolutely mindless drivel equal to the level that you would read on a gas station bathroom stall. Has no one heard of respect these days?
Maybe its a sign of the times and respect certainly seems to be a sunset quality. I, personally, would never purposely disrespect another team or their fans. I know(being a Canucks fan) the hardships and pain of defeat. I know how much it can hurt to be so close to that championship, yet come up empty. It hurts. So what would be the point of bashing another team? To build myself up, and make myself feel better? Isnt that something your class bully in grade 3 would do? If you think about it, without any other teams, you wouldn't have a team to cheer for.
Recently I was at an NHL game featuring the Vancouver Canucks against the Detroit Red Wings. For the first two periods everyone was having a good time. There was some taunting and "nose-rubbing" for both teams but it was kept at a respectable level.
And then, I don't know if the beer kicked in or what, but by the third period it became blatantly obvious that things were starting to get out of control.
Swear words became the common form of expression along with an "in your face" style attitude. It wasn't long before two (either drunk or extremely passionate) fans were swinging at each other. And all of this going on in front of families, kids and people just looking to watch a good hockey game.
Is this what we as hockey fans have come to? Are we next in line to join soccer as a hooligan sport?
I can understand heated debate and that everyone loves their respective team but screaming, swearing, and eventually coming to blows over a hockey game?
Eventually, security gained control of the situation and dragged both parties out of the arena, but the damage had already been done. I kept thinking about the poor kids who had to witness this. When they go back home to tell their friends or write in their journals at school, you know the first thing they will say will have absolutely nothing to do with the hockey game (which was a very good game for the home team, by the way).
Maybe I have it all wrong. Maybe that is just the way sport is, and there will always be those people who cross the proverbial line. If so, I think that is a really sad aspect of sport.
Some people can't just "respect" opposition. But I refuse to believe that we cannot be respectable. I do see it, once in a while. Especially among the players. Minus the Simon's, Tootoo's and Avery's, I find that the players mostly embody maturity and respect. Most fights, issues and incidences are dealt with, left on the ice and are swiftly forgotten.
So the next time you are about to lay into one of your opponent's followers, put yourself in their shoes. And if someone is bashing you, why not just laugh to yourself instead of demoting yourself to their level? You know, be the better person. Only a fool takes up a fool's argument. And remember, as Mr Zednik involuntarily re-iterated not long ago, it's just a game.
comments (2) write a comment »
write a new comment
6 months ago
You should check out last week's SI. There's a great article about the fans of College Basketball and their outright disgusting behaviour. I'd like to think that, in your situation, it was an isolated incident between a couple of drunken louts.
6 months ago
Totally agreed. There is room for taunting and cheering for your team while getting in the other fans' face, but that should be at a respectable level.
write a new comment