I went to a local bar and grill this past Sunday to catch the NFL conference championships. The atmosphere was as I expected – two groups of loud fans sitting on opposite sides. There was occasional bickering between the two
I went to a local bar and grill this past Sunday to catch the NFL conference championships.
The atmosphere was as I expected – two groups of loud fans sitting on opposite sides.
There was occasional bickering between the two groups, but nothing over the top.
At the end of those games, one group was filled with elation and the other filled with heartache.
Despite the intensity of these fans during the contests, the two groups said their goodbyes and went on their way. No fighting in the parking lots or anything of the sort, and I was pleasantly surprised.
Then I check my social media feeds and most of what I read are insults by both sides – angry status updates, trash-talking tweets and degrading, though sometimes funny, memes.
Soon after, I read news reports about escalated confrontations between fans that have turned life-threatening. Thankfully though, I’ve not read any reports about fights turning fatal.
Am I saddened and disappointed about such news? Yes. Surprised? No.
I get it. Rivalries are just that and they’re much fiercer during the postseason. It’s one of the elements that makes sports so compelling.
But too often I’ve seen or read about fandom that has gone far out of bounds: the San Francisco Giants fan who was beaten to an inch of his life by a group of Dodgers fans, the Alabama football fan who poisoned the symbolic trees of the Auburn University community and, most recently, a shooting incident in Fresno, Calif., between 49ers and Seahawks fans.
Also, there are the on-field issues such as Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman’s epic rant against San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree.
Then there are the numerous drunken fights I’ve witnessed in the crowds of live events that have usually led to someone getting hurt and/or getting kicked out of the stadium.
If you’re a fan of a particular sports team, then be the best fan you can be. Cheer and celebrate as loud as you can. Even pick at a rival fan from time to time.
However, I hope one day extreme cases of fandom like these make its way out of sports.
Do I expect it to? Not in my lifetime, if ever, but one can only hope.
• Nick Celario, sports writer, can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
