James Mohr: Misplaced Priorities as Much to Blame as Boos in Latest Fan-Brawl

People take sports way too serious. This was made painfully evident again this past football weekend. New York Jets fan James Mohr was savagely beaten by men witnesses say were disgruntled Kansas City Chiefs fans.

The Chiefs had just been blown away 37-10 at MetLife Stadium in New York. In the parking lot of the stadium a verbal quarrel began. Reportedly, the Chiefs fans began to shout remarks about how NY deserved what happened to them on 9/11 and, "F#*@ NY."

Apparently, Mohr took offense and confronted the group about their disrespectful remarks. Mohr's family members are active and retired FDNY, so the comments especially struck a nerve with Mohr. No one deserves this treatment for exchanged words.

This is an extreme example of a trait that far too many sports fans possess. There is an obvious lack of separation of sport and real life. Liquor is blamed in most cases and many believe liquor sales should stop at halftime to curtail this activity. While this may help, it won't completely resolve the issue.

This type of activity, though on a smaller scale, takes place all the time in environments where liquor isn't a factor. 

One example is LeBron James. James has never been in trouble, he's never been suspended or even come close to disciplinary action, yet he is the most hated player in the NBA. The hate for LeBron goes beyond basketball for many sports fans. You can hear or read it in their tone, when they speak or write about him in forums just like the ones this great site provides.

I don't doubt that some fans would get physical with LeBron, but if the 6'8" monster didn't thrash them, their arrest would swiftly follow. Some are crazy enough to try it even with those consequences.

Why is LeBron so hated? Because of what many perceive as a sports crime. As much as I love Allen Iverson, he has been in far more trouble and made far more mistakes than James, yet he is beloved while James is irrationally despised.

Many American sports fans see outrageous brawls break out at world football games (soccer) that often turned deadly. Are American fans really behaving much differently? 

Even in discussions of opposing views, fans will often resort to personal attacks and vicious name calling simply because you believe the Bulls will lose to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals or vice-versa.

Many fans don't want to see players smiling or joking in the field or on the court. I have heard or read it described as, "going to war, there is no time for smiling and joking."

News flash: this is a game.

While I am an intense competitor myself, I find it imperative to keep things in the proper perspective.

These attacks, this type of thinking and reaction, is more a product of dysfunctional priorities, misplaced aggression and poor decisions. Liquor is just an enabler.

Let's ball, not brawl.