The more I brainstorm ideas for this blog, the more obvious it becomes to me what the biggest problem in the sports world is: Fans. I've dedicated multiple posts to different kinds of fans and I think I may have even said that ignorant, uninformed fans are the worst kind at one point. If I did indeed do that, I'd like to formally rescind that statement right now. Because I can honestly say that I've finally identified the very worst kind of fan beyond a reasonable doubt: True, obsessed "fanatics." The fan that truly believes that his/her pre-game ritual is going to affect the outcome of the game. The fan that believes that he/she is as much a part of the team as the players. The fan that believes that he/she would make a better coach than "that asshole," but only when their team is losing. The fan that literally hates other teams because it's not "their" team. The fan that lives vicariously through the players on "their" team. And worst of all, the fan that is willing to physically fight another human for not being a fan of "their" team.
I like to begin my posts by providing a little bit of context for my arguments. In this case, I'm going to use myself as an example. I love sports. I've played them for my entire life and continue to do so recreationally on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis. I love them so much that I've decided to pursue a career that is completely devoted to athletics. I have a favorite team in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA Football, NCAA Basketball and Trexlertown Slow-Pitch Softball League. I don't like to see them lose. But if they do, I'm mature enough to recognize that it's a game and it really has nothing to do with my life. I sulk for about 37 seconds, take a sip of my beer, and then go back to not being a complete psycho about something I have no control over. And never have I even dreamed about fighting someone for not rooting for the same team as me. That's just laughable.
The initial motivation for this post came Thursday night during/after the Eagles' preseason game against the Steelers. In case you missed it, the Eagles weren't exactly impressive. Mike Vick threw three interceptions in one half and their starters were downright dominated by their Steeler counterparts. So I sign on Facebook as the game is ending and what's the first thing I see in my newsfeed? Countless statuses from non-Eagle fans talking shit about the Eagles. Several of them that read something like this: "Ohh some dream team huh? HAHAHA I love watching the Eagles suck!" Really? No, seriously...REALLY? How little of a life do you have that you're watching a preseason game just hoping you'll see a team fail? And the sad thing is that it wasn't just one person, it was several. All that tells me is that you already know "your" team is going to be hot garbage so you're just praying that your friends don't have something to cheer about. You know what they say, misery loves company. Sidenote: Most of you that are reading this know me well enough to know that I couldn't care less about the Eagles. So it's not like my feelings were hurt. I just think it's hilarious that people are more worried about them than they are about "their" team. And by "hilarious" I clearly mean "embarrassing."
I don't hate you if you fall into the above category. I understand that people like to talk junk to their friends and there's friendly competition when it comes to favorite teams. I still think it's a little ridiculous to root against a team unless "your" team is in a battle with them in the standings, but it's more funny than it is anything serious. But this is the part where I do get a little serious on you. I had already made up my mind that this was going to be the focus of my next post when another tragic event occurred at a San Francisco sporting event. Saturday night the 49ers hosted the Oakland Raiders in preseason action at Candlestick Park. There were multiple violent offenses surrounding the game. One man was assaulted and knocked unconscious in a restroom during the game, there was a brawl involving several fans in the stands, and then two more men were SHOT after the game. It's uncertain whether or not the incidents were related, but the fact of the matter is that at least one fan was offended enough to pull a gun and use it. I'm literally so disgusted that I almost don't even know what to say. First of all, who the hell brings a gun to a preseason football game? Second of all, how is it possible that anything could have been said or done that warranted a shooting? It's literally mind-boggling. I can't find words to express how pathetic these people are. And this came on the heels of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow being beaten to a coma by two Los Angeles Dodger fans earlier this year. These people aren't fans. They're psychotic criminals that should be castrated with a rusty butter knife before spending the rest of their lives behind bars.
And this isn't a new phenomenon. Fans have been rioting, brawling and fighting for as long as sports have existed. Soccer fans are infamous for their brawls. There was a fight at the Ravens/Chiefs game the same night as the Niners/Raiders game. We all remember the Pistons/Pacers brawl which was incited by idiotic fans. So what's the solution? I can pretty much guarantee that alcohol is the one constant in these occurrences. But there's really no way to prevent people from drinking. Stadiums aren't going to stop selling alcohol during games because they'd lose a ton of money and, to be honest, that wouldn't change anything anyway. People will find a way to drink. If they can't get it during games, they'll drink during tailgating. If they can't tailgate, they'll drink before they get to the park. It's a scary thought, but there's really no way to assure that these things won't happen. This may be the only time you'll ever see me drop an f-bomb on here, but I have to do it to show how serious I am. The only way to prevent this shit from happening is for people to grow the fuck up. I just don't know if that will ever happen.
"The fanatic is incorruptible: if he kills for an idea, he can just as well get himself killed for one; in either case, tyrant or martyr, he is a monster." -Emil Cioran (Romanian philosopher and essayist)
-Brusk Dollas
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