#SouvenirSunday: Spastic Fans

Source: The Players’ Tribune Over the past several years, there have been numerous heated exchanges between fans and athletes. These exchanges have taken place on social media, in arenas, at stadiums, and in public. Typically, we fault the athlete for responding. But is it really the athlete’s responsibility for a fan’s behavior? Thursday, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette had a heated exchange with a fan in the stands. Fournette, who told the man he would “whoop his ass” told the team that the man called him a coon and other racial slurs. Luckily, the Tennessee Titans are taking this matter seriously and investigating the situation that happened at Nissan Stadium. Three years ago, one of these exchanges happened between Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, and a 49ers’ fan, Stephen Batten, on Twitter. While Kaepernick may have gone a bit too far with his response, he had every right to defend himself on Twitter. As spectators or fans, we often complain about the field performance that we cannot do ourselves. If the fan could do it himself, he would be on the field, ice, mat, course, or court. But on the other hand, fans have the right to make that complaint as the ultimate employer of a professional athlete. Yet, as the ultimate employer of an athlete, doesn’t that mean they should be held to a higher standard of conduct? Athletes are human beings like everyone else. They have some of the same needs and desires which mean they also have feelings. Feelings get hurt, and when feelings get hurt, people lash out. If those fans acted at their jobs the way they treated Kaepernick or Fournette, I hope they would face the consequences of harassment or mobbing in the workplace. So, should they not be punished for mistreating athletes? Fans have every right to express their opinion; they have the right to express their elation or rejection of an athlete or team. However, if that fan attacks an athlete personally, then that fan should expect the backlash from that athlete or the team. The problem lies with what the consequences should be when the exchanges cross the line. This is a societal 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 birthright that another should not cross without permission. Therein lies the disrespect shown to one another. And as said before, most of the time the league or team as well as society comes down hard on the athlete. But what about when the fault actually lies with the fan who crosses the line and those teams and leagues who do not proactively prevent and respond to the bad behavior of fans? It is not enough to simply warn fans before they enter arenas or make them leave the arena. The penalties need to be just as stiff for fans as it is for athletes. The current process is not working which is why we are also seeing an increase of fans attacking each other. For instance, the Pittsburgh Steelers fan who choked a pregnant San Diego Chargers fan is a prime example of fan violence escalating. Source: The Fumble Whether the violence is verbal or physical, fans must face the consequences . . . if you do the crime, you must face time. Perhaps, in the Pittsburgh case, the fan should not be allowed to attend any games–little league, high school, college, or professional of any sport–in the Pittsburgh area until he is rehabilitated (i.e., anger management, sobriety, etc.) as well as face criminal charges for assault. Either way, it is time to take fan violence seriously before we have another fan killed like 5 years ago in California.