I was reading something the other day about sports fans and when they like to boo. The article was talking about booing at a high school sporting event, and that got me thinking. When is it OK to boo? Does it matter what age the players, whether it's amateur or professional? Does it depend on the ticket prices?
It's my theory that fans are much quicker to vent their displeasure today than they have ever been at sporting events. Why do you think that is? I can understand the money aspects of it at the major league level, but major league money only applies at the major league level. Do you feel any hestitation booing players who may be making less than you?
Do you find yourself more willing to boo now than you did say five years ago? Do you boo earlier in contests? What does that say about supporting the team?
This also made me think of the things Greg Puhalski went through in Fort Wayne. He won a championship, something only three other coahes ever did here, and had back-to-back 50-win seasons, somethng no one else ever did here, but it's obvious the fans were unhappy. Last year's team finished second and had a winning season, but so many fans were very unhappy. Were they spoiled?
Are you more willing to boo the coach than the players?
Obviously, I don't boo or cheer in the press box, but I can tell you there have been a few times over the years where I've thought if I had paid money to a specific game and was sitting in the stands, I'd probably have been booing as well. In fact, I've been doing this so long it's hard for me to imagine myself getting worked up enough about a sporting event any more to actually boo. It just doesn't mean anything to me, I don't have the emotional attachment.
I also wonder if booing has lost some impact today because it happens so often? What do you think?
Comments
First of all Blake I think you've started a monster by putting Puhalski's name in there, not that he wouldn't be mentioned anyway.
I tend to boo when:
1) the opposition does something wrong and gets away with it.
2) I see lazy plays and bad penatlies from the Komets.
3) I see players getting more ice time than I think they deserve or are lacking somehting that they use to bring to the game.
Outside of that, I tend to sit back and watch. But as a paying customer, I believe it is our right to be able to boo because it's a non-violent way to voice our displeasure. IF whoever or whatever the object of the booing can't handle it, it's their problem and not ours.
Let me be first... Get over it! He's gone!
Amen to that, but you know people are still going to rail on him.
As it relates to UHL Hockey:
I will not boo the Komets, Players or Coaches. My loyalty to the home team is unbreakable.
I will boo the officials everytime they come on to the ice.
I will boo bad calls and pretty much any call against the Komets.
I Will boo Martinson, Duhart, any Rockford player or coach.
Now i look at what i've written and i guess i boo at the games because i enjoy doing it and i think i usually end up smiling and laughing after a boo session.
I do cheer more than i boo at komets games, HEY you....... well you know.
I don't think it has a place at the middle school level or below, i really haven't formed an opinion at the high school level and i think it is ok from college on up.
i can't wait to see Tony E's response. How does booing affect you, do you start to question yourself deep down inside if you are getting jeered after a call.
But Blake hit it on the head, i have an emotional attachment to the K's because i choose to, Komet Hockey is my hobby and i enjoy it.
I completely agree with Burgee...First and Formost..The komets or any other home team deserves good fans and to have them boo, I believe, well it is just stupid...You are supposed to boo the opposing team, after all everyone boos the Komets when we are on the road..encouragement will get you further then booing IMO..
But why boo an official before he comes on the ice? What purpose does that serve, other than creating a gust of wind? It obviously doesn't affect the officials, so why do it?
The only two times I get on a Komet player are:
1) If they don't put forth an effort
2) When a bigger guy lets a smaller guy getmanhandled without standing up for him
No excuses on either one of those. #2 was my biggest problem with Guinn.
Burgee when it comes to Komet Hockey (booing at the officials as they come onto the ice) according to the dictionary
any strong agitation of the feelings actuated by experiencing love, hate, fear, etc., and usually accompanied by certain physiological changes, as increased heartbeat or respiration, and often overt manifestation, as crying or shaking.
it gets me pumped, right where i want to be, remember my emotional tie.
Where the Blakester is:
unmoved by feeling; he keeps his emotionless objectivity and faith in the cause he serves.
Right where he should be!
I would boo the effort, or lack there of, that a Komet player shows. If a player doesn't skate his hardest to get an iceing or doesn't try to hold a puck in the zone, why wouldn't you boo? Same as if a player really shows heart by skating hard or skating a double shift, I would cheer.
I would also boo a bad call, a missed call, a visiting player showboating after a goal/winning a fight, Slappy (who can't even hold Icy's jock-strap), poor service in the dip-n-dot line, a fan that can't catch a foul ball or takes a foul ball away from a kid, any Red and/or White Sox player (Go Yankees and Cubs), a draw play when it's 3rd and 12, a missed field goal of less than 40 yards, PEOPLE WHO USE THE LOL FOR EVERY JOKE!!!, T.O. if I ever met him in person even though I'm a huge Cowboys fan, King Richard, any time a player watches his homerun leave the park (Unless it's his first, then he should run around the park giving high fives and doing cart-wheels!), and people who put ketchup on hot dogs!!! That's un-american!!! (Great, now I need to put the dumb LOL or I'll get yelled at by Blake!!!)LOL (happy Blake?)
Great stuff Hoss! You da man!
So, Burgee, booing the ref when they come out is more for you than for them, correct? That I can understand.
I generally do not boo....but I will maybe mutter or yell out something like...."THAT'S BULLC--P!" or...."GIVE ME A BREAK!" ....something along that line. My wife will tell you that I get very frustrated when I see a lack of effort or poor officiating, etc. But I rarely boo or swear (at least loudly!)
I don't boo very often, a loud "WHAT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" sometimes punctuated by a smack on the glass usually does the trick. And I have to be really annoyed for it to be directed towards a Komet player.
I don't believe in booing in any school sport except for college. Middle school and even high school is full of kids who want to have fun. College (although still a school event) is a different situation.
Now as for booing the home team, I don't. I don't care much if others do, as long as it is for understandable reasons (i.e. the team isn't putting forth any effort.) Even then I think it should be used sparingly.
It's always exceptable to boo the away team in pro sports! Cheer the home team, boo the opponent, thats why the fans are there!
I only boo the officials on nights that their are games.
JM, do you find that there is lots or room out there on that limb or are you a lone wolf?
Being an official myself, booing doesn't bother me when it is directed at me. The way I see it, one team is going to love your call and the other team is going to hate it. Same with the fans. The only time I boo is when I see a complete lack of effort from either the Komets or even the team playing the Komets. People pay their hard earned money to go watch a competitive hockey game played by professionals and if they can't even give a full effort while they are being paid a salary to play the game, then they deserve to be booed. I think that is more than fair.
Blake, I kid. But at the same time the officials in the UHL are pretty poor. With the exception of Martin and Harrison, who I'm not even sure are around anymore.
JM, you named two you like. Does that mean you get to crack on two for free?
No, he has to name two ACTIVE officials for that to happen. Blog law. I'll drink to that.
yes, its more for me, i also enjoy driving around the neighborhood with the family in the car with welcome to the jungle blaring and the komet flag hanging out the sunroof. Its even better when the teenagers bring friends along.
I'm calling Shinanigans on Blake. The rule never read "active".
Who invented booing? Who decided that was an appropriate sound to make when unhappy. Is it an American thing? In Europe fans whistle loudly when they are mad.
As far as being boo'd as an official, I am not doing my job if I don't hear it ;-)
booing is only allowed college and above. i only do it when a ref blows an obvious call and when a player does not put forth the effort close to his abiliities. if either are offended then they dont belong in the professional ranks.(yes college is a professional sport). booing is a harmless way for a fan to let off steam and let the aforementioned people know that somebody noticed that they missed something or that they were dogging it. as far as not booing a home team player, thats like putting your head in the sand and sitting there taking anything that is dished out to you while they stick out their hands for your money. todays athlete has not much loyalty to a team, only to the green stuff. booing roberta is one thing., booing someone like len thornson on an off night is another. all i want as a paying customer is that the players and refs(coaches too) put forth the effort that is expected of them.
Roberta has feeling too!!!!
only for himself. hes forgotten more feelings than youve ever known!
Boo-ing is definitely a big Hockey thing. I mean come on, the old manual hockey game like the one the Hansens played in Slap Shot even has a button you push that boo's. I boo poor effort, bad reffing, jerks on the other team, and anyone who does the WAVE! I freaking hate the WAVE. Please Stop The Wave....It sucks.
BTW, want something to boo about, if anyone gets ESPN the magazine they already know, if you don't i recommend going out and gettign a copy of the issue dated oct 23. The's a story about Galante and the Trashers. This is the first time i've seen a picture of him and the Kid GM. The kid looks more like the mobster than his dad.
I usually boo when the official makes a horrific call or if the other team does a cheap shot on one of our players. I have booed every once in awhile when they weren't performing but I've stopped myself a couple of times due to the fact that it's not my butt playing down there and I've never played before in my life so how can I judge but I will tell you when they mention Chief's name when he comes here for the Hounds I will be booing. Just personal preferance. Never liked the guy.
about the wave in my opinion:
wave = boring game or a sunday game when the majority arent hardcore!!
about yelling stuff:
i like to copy off the lady that sits
catey-corner(sp) to me she's fun to mock..light it up...pass it around..no really she yells that