2008 Woodie Awards
Unnecessary Roughness:
No, you're supposed to beat the other TEAM!
Corey Kempf
Issue date: 9/23/04 Section: Sports
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Hi, I'm a diehard fan of the red team. I really hate the blue team, and I will do anything and everything in my limited power of spectatory to let the players on that team know about it, even if it costs me a broken nose. (Woo! Blood is the same as the team color! Go Team!)
Well, unfortunately for a fan of the Oakland A's, their colors are green and gold, but the broken nose thing, yeah, that stays the same.
The fan's nose was broken after Texas Rangers' reliever Frank Francisco threw a ball boy's chair into the stands after fans and players exchanged words. I think it's pretty safe to say that they weren't talking about the Yankees.
In this situation, I believe it's best to take the Tim Couch route. No, not be cut in favor of Craig Nall, but instead don't lash out against fans. Take the pacifist road.
I can see it now, anger management classes for the athlete: "Having trouble with hecklers? Do what Tim Couch does and release your angst the civilized way, by bawling your eyes out."
The problem with this is that hecklers are a part of sports. Fans always attend games and there's always that one guy. If you don't like that fact, go play for the Expos.
Hell, their fans don't even heckle, they just wear those classic paper bags over their heads.
I'm not saying fan participation is bad, go ahead and cheer all you want. Fan noise is one of the best ways to motivate players. That's why it's encouraged. That's why Texas A&M University named its student section of their football games the "12th Man" and even designated jersey number 12 to honor their fans.
But who's really to blame here, the fan or the player? The teams obviously encourage fun involvement and cheering, but the fans have somehow taken it to an extreme, probably with the help of alcoholic beverages.
This is how players are attacked on the field and how a free autographed ball night promotion can turn into Armageddon; although I'm still not sure what possesses people to paint their cars or houses the colors of their favorite team.
Well, unfortunately for a fan of the Oakland A's, their colors are green and gold, but the broken nose thing, yeah, that stays the same.
The fan's nose was broken after Texas Rangers' reliever Frank Francisco threw a ball boy's chair into the stands after fans and players exchanged words. I think it's pretty safe to say that they weren't talking about the Yankees.
In this situation, I believe it's best to take the Tim Couch route. No, not be cut in favor of Craig Nall, but instead don't lash out against fans. Take the pacifist road.
I can see it now, anger management classes for the athlete: "Having trouble with hecklers? Do what Tim Couch does and release your angst the civilized way, by bawling your eyes out."
The problem with this is that hecklers are a part of sports. Fans always attend games and there's always that one guy. If you don't like that fact, go play for the Expos.
Hell, their fans don't even heckle, they just wear those classic paper bags over their heads.
I'm not saying fan participation is bad, go ahead and cheer all you want. Fan noise is one of the best ways to motivate players. That's why it's encouraged. That's why Texas A&M University named its student section of their football games the "12th Man" and even designated jersey number 12 to honor their fans.
But who's really to blame here, the fan or the player? The teams obviously encourage fun involvement and cheering, but the fans have somehow taken it to an extreme, probably with the help of alcoholic beverages.
This is how players are attacked on the field and how a free autographed ball night promotion can turn into Armageddon; although I'm still not sure what possesses people to paint their cars or houses the colors of their favorite team.