Outrageous Chants

Source: Matthew Henriques

Just like teams, leagues and athletes have to remember that fans are like friends. There are good ones and bad ones. Fans come and fans go. There are bandwagon fans who cheer for a team because it is the “it” thing to do; those fans disappear rather quickly. But what about when the exchange is one-sided as in the chants fans have for their team, or better yet, against the opposing team?

What should the consequence be when the fans’ exchange cross the line? This is a society issue as many in society have forgotten, or in some cases were never taught, there are boundaries that each individual has been granted as a birth right that another should not cross without permission. Therein lies the disrespect shown to one another.

Just like teams, leagues and athletes have to remember that fans are like friends. There are good ones and bad ones. Fans come and fans go. There are bandwagon fans who cheer for a team because it is the “it” thing to do; those fans disappear rather quickly. But what about those loyal fans who consistently cross the line, or even walk the line, with their chants?

While many will say the Nashville Predators’ fans’ chants probably walk the line, it would be hard to argue the fans at the Michigan-Ohio State men’s basketball game last week did the same. So, should teams be penalized for their fans’ bad behavior with loss of television coverage when such behavior is clearly caught on camera? At what point does the team become accountable for allowing such behavior to continue to exist?

Clearly, University of Michigan needs to handle the situation or its basketball program should lose a day of television coverage. Same is true of any other team that allows that type of behavior.


Source: Brian222 TV