When is it okay to "boo"?
- Thread starter Neroon
- Start date
Imo 99% of the time it's absolutely pathetic when "fans" boo their own team into the half time break; and almost always shows what miserable fair-weather-fans they are.
"Rioting" is hardly common at football matches. Hundreds of matches are held every weekend just in England alone with no trouble at all. Many thousands more are held all over the world every weekend. Teams typically play twice a week with no trouble.
Booing the refs when they frak up is a basic right [and responsibility] of fandom lol, and booing the opposition is also obviously OK -- as Reggie Jackson said years ago, they don't boo nobodies-- but I'll add my voice to those who won't boo their own team unless I were to honestly feel they weren't trying. They're entertainers and what they owe me for my money and time to support them is their best effort... if I get success too, so much the better.
The most extreme case in point for me, as a lifelong Red Sox fan, was Rich Gedman. In the midst of one of the greatest career collapses of all time in the late 80s, hitting about .205 for three straight years after being possibly the best catcher in the AL, I refused to boo him on Opening Day like so many others did... [not a majority IIRC, but a lot]... but he was the only one I didn't clap for. I'm not going to boo a guy on Opening Day with his wife and kids in the stands.
Booing is a tool to fight evil, either in the form of the opposition, incompetent officials, or lazy players.... to use it otherwise is to cheapen it.
The most extreme case in point for me, as a lifelong Red Sox fan, was Rich Gedman. In the midst of one of the greatest career collapses of all time in the late 80s, hitting about .205 for three straight years after being possibly the best catcher in the AL, I refused to boo him on Opening Day like so many others did... [not a majority IIRC, but a lot]... but he was the only one I didn't clap for. I'm not going to boo a guy on Opening Day with his wife and kids in the stands.
Booing is a tool to fight evil, either in the form of the opposition, incompetent officials, or lazy players.... to use it otherwise is to cheapen it.
In today's Denver @ Kansas City game, the Chiefs were booed pretty severely because with 6 seconds to go in the first half, they took a knee instead of running a play. They were winning too. 
I only boo when
- The refs make a hideous call or
- A player acts in an unsportsmanlike manner, like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvx_TczCzwA
From the moment the play was over, until the refs thumb went just so.
- The refs make a hideous call or
- A player acts in an unsportsmanlike manner, like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvx_TczCzwA
From the moment the play was over, until the refs thumb went just so.
That's the way I was raised as well. It's simply that when a player commits a grievous act such as in the clip Worf412 linked, I feel it isn't against the spirit of good sportsmanship to let him know that was downright crappy.
To me, the only booing that really matters is booing that comes from the home crowd and is directed at the home team or home players.
I believe it the right of any fan to boo the home team or home player (or whomever), but I would love it if just once, any fan that boos the home team could be out there on the field just once to see how it feels. After that, if you still want to boo the home team, go right ahead.
I believe it the right of any fan to boo the home team or home player (or whomever), but I would love it if just once, any fan that boos the home team could be out there on the field just once to see how it feels. After that, if you still want to boo the home team, go right ahead.